Larry Berkin kicked off our program at Mobile 2.0 last week with his great “Who’s in the Driver’s Seat in Mobile” presentation. Many of you have asked for the slides – well here they are!

Mobile 2.0 Larry Berkin -Who’s In the Driver Seat in Mobile

Hey, Developers.   Thanks for signing up to join us at Mobile 2.0 2011.    If you have not registered already, please email us at info@mobile2event.com and mention that you read this Blog post, and we will send you a special discount code

We are super pleased that we have a great set of Workshops that should prove to be of value to you.   Dont hesitate to make your voices heard!  No question is too complicated, no question is too simple.   Mobile 2.0 has always been and will always be about you the Audience!

I am also very happy to be able to offer you the Oppportunity to find out how Telefonica/BlueVia Developer program can help you market your Apps in Mexico, Latin America and Europe.   I know many of us are pretty sceptical about a Carrier Developer program, just how innovative can they really be?   Well, come find out more and decide for yourself at the BlueVia Open House which will be held all day at Mobile 2.0

For more in-depth look at BlueVia, give a read to the recent UK interview with James Parton, the Head of Marketing.

Me, Mobile Entertainment at http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/tag/top-50-mobile-innovators

INTERVIEW: BlueVia’s James Parton on making apps smarter

by Tim Green
Friday, June 24th 2011 at 10:22am

‘We’ve got the network assets. You’ve got the creativity. Let’s make lots of money’.

BlueVia is the Platinum Partner of ME’s Top 50 Mobile Innovators project, which aims to identify the cream of the British mobile content scene. Here, we speak to James Parton about the Telefonica developer initiative…

If there’s any operator project that deserves the moniker ‘smart pipe’, it’s Telefonica’s BlueVia. It’s been pointed out a squillion times before that operators have lots of assets at their disposal – but that they tend not to include developer creativity.

Telefonica implicitly recognised this when it launched BlueVia in beta late last year. BlueVia is all about making life easier – and more lucrative – for developers by inviting them to enhance their apps and services by plugging in network APIs, while also offering risk free revenue share business models.

It’s saying to developers use our network assets to make your apps smarter’.

Smart pipe, see?

Specifically, these APIs enable developers to send and receive SMS/MMS, embed ads, retrieve user and device information, and get the location of the user. But there are more ‘enablers’ to come.

It’s only been out of closed beta for a few weeks, but BlueVia is already accumulating some interesting case studies while preparing to enhance its offering with more APIs.

We caught up with the man behind it all, James Parton.

How many developers are currently signed up for BlueVia?

Over a thousand. We’re pleased with how things are going so far. Especially since we’re only two months out of closed beta. But I’ve really got to stress that it’s not about numbers. We’re a telco, not a developer community, and we’ve realised that the important thing is to make available the right assets to the right developers.

That means going to them, wherever they are, rather than trying to build up yet another closed programme and get them to come to us. It’s why we teamed up with Microsoft to reach out to the .net community, for example.

We’re also building a nice base of case studies – we have around 25 in various stages of development. Really, that’s the best way of communicating what we’re trying to build here. People say to me ‘what applications can I create using BlueVia?’ and really I want to avoid closing people’s creativity down.

I describe BlueVia as providing the ingredients, but developers will come up with the recipe and bake the cake. We’re providing the tools. It’s our developers’ creativity that will provide the inspiration and the way forward. Telco’s track record of launching services proves we are the wrong people to ask what to build!

What’s a good example of a BlueVia enhanced app?

TextDeck is great. It’s very simple – and tool for sending SMS from a Mac. Messages appear on the recipients phone as if sent from your phone, and any replies are sent back to your phone too. The developer gets a rev share on every message, because messages are billed outside of any inclusive monthly messages the customer may have.

We like this one because of the revenue element for the developer, but also because it syncs with your Google contacts and is distributed via the Mac App store. So it’s a good example of a telco service that mashes up with web-based tools.

Another is TaxiStop, which will send an MMS to people waiting for a taxi containing a photo or the driver, the registration number of the driver and the cab license plate. It’s a passenger safety and reassurance thing.

You just closed Litmus, which was the precursor to BlueVia. What should we read into that?

Actually I’m really proud we closed Litmus. Telcos never close anything! But we’d evolved Litmus into BlueVia anyway, so it was part of the whole consolidation process that we shut it to ensure we have a clear strategy around BlueVia. The worst possible situation would be confusing developers with multiple platforms.

How many more APIs could be made available?

We’ve just launched the location API, which is attracting a lot of interest. It’s a breakthrough because it’s free for developers to look up O2 UK customers, and of course it uses the network to pin point, which has some advantages over and app using GPS like reducing the drain the handset battery.

There are five more APIs in the works now, and more countries to be added to the platform. Further ahead, we’ll have more and they will reflect the assets that the network can offer in areas such as roaming, context, subscriber status, location and so on.

One optional piece of the BlueVia offering is distribution through the Telefonica app stores. How significant are these channels? 

As I’ve said, we’re not hung up on keeping things exclusive to the Telefonica network. We’re happy for developers to distribute their apps how they want. But, yes, we can offer distribution through our own channels. At the moment we have app stores live in Germany, Argentina and Spain, and we’re working on broadening this out.

However, there are things an operator can do to add value around recommendation and personalisation, for example, because we have access to so much consumer data. And we’re working on ideas like an on-device folder that you can push apps to. That should be pretty interesting.

How viable is BlueVia as a single-operator offering? Surely developers want to enhance their apps with APIs that work across all networks…

Clearly, we’d love to see this go cross network. History shows us that services really take off when this happens. And with the WAC and OneAPI there are initiatives out there. They need to succeed.

Of course there’s cynicism around these ideas. I understand that. Telcos are not agile. They don’t move at internet speed. But they are good at ‘fast following’, and they will quickly copy ideas that work. I hope that we can lead the way on APIs.

The other thing to remember is that Telefonica might be one network, but we can access more than 270 million customers in 25 countries.

If WAC does deliver, is that the end for BlueVia?

There are always going to be differences between different operators in terms of commercial strategy, marketing, and technology, plus regional differences in regulation. Some operators may be content with WAC APIs, but there will be others – like Telefonica – that have a particular focus and will want to make incremental investments into their API and developer offerings.

Ultimately, telcos make billions from core voice and data services. Some would ask, why bother with this stuff at all?

The core business of telcos does come first, of course it does. But telcos have to look to the future and develop new services and revenue streams. Telefonica/O2 has a history of innovation. Industry analysts are independently describing Telefonica as one of the most progressive telcos in the world, and that’s something I’m proud to be a part of.

The important thing about BlueVia is that it sits outside of the local business units, yet returns revenues back to them, so we’ve got support from the whole organisation.

I’ve done ten years inside telco product development and I’ve launched many operator branded services – we all know that those days have gone. Now, it’s all about exposing our unique assets to the creativity of others and all sharing in the rewards.

By now,  I imagine all Mobile 2.0 readers,  have been considering the implications of the Google Acquisition of Motorola.   To begin the conversation that I am sure will come up over and over on September 1st.   I am re-publishing the thoughts of one of our Co-Organizers, Tony Fish, AMF Ventures in London.    I will publish my own views later this week.    BTW, if you are reading this and have not yet registered.  Please email me at info@mobile2event.com and I will send you a special discount code

THE CHANGING FACE OF MOBILE

The Deal
Google purchased Motorola’s mobile business for $12.5 billion. In doing so, Google brought patents, hardware design, manufacturing and a seat at the patent table. However the context is… Oracle suing, Apple winning, eco-system struggling, Samsung annoyed and Microsoft attacking
 
Worthy of Note
Google has bought in cash and not shares.  This commitment will reduce their cash balance to $22bn from the mid thirties, but it is cash.  Given the issues that cash purchases delivered to telecoms in 2000/2001 this is an important fact as many ran into immediate issues and sold off key assets.  However, I expect the reason that this is cash is that Google are not expecting to hold the operational assets for long.  An equity purchase could have caused them problems from shareholders when they flip it assuming it completes in Q1 2012
 
Why now?
Porter 5 forces model is helpful here as it highlights the dynamic nature of the mobile market that Google faces.  Their power is low, their service fragmented and  they are being attacked.
 
Starting from the view of the world formed by ….

1. Operators.  Deal does not change anything as we are the controllers of mobile – we keep all manufacturers below 30% market share and make sure it is a competitive supply market.  However, we are still worried about becoming bit pipe….
2. Oracle/ Sun/ Java       Defence needed as android has been beset with legal challenges from all sides, including a multibillion dollar lawsuit filed by Oracle, but Motorola patents are about wireless tech and unlikely to help.
3. Microsoft/ Nokia        Attention is off us – heads down lads and deliver. Worth reading the pervious insights on MSFT/ Nokia deal and how to befriend the operators.
4. Apple  By purchasing a manufacturer, Google has admitted it needs more than just a free operating system and loads of partners to compete with Apple: they need to duplicate Apple’s successes by totally controlling both the hardware and software of their devices.
5. OEM ‘s            “Google has gone from partner to competitor.” 
6. Media/ Content owners          According to Infonetics, Motorola Mobility was the leader in set-top box revenues last year, and was also tops in hybrid IP/QAM set-top boxes — that is, the boxes used by operators like Verizon that combine broadcast TV and over-the-top applications. By leveraging Motorola’s position with carriers, Google can better solidify its bid to expand Google TV and Android into the living room.”
7. Developers      At least there is one less system to deal with

So here are some possible outcomes and scenarios

The production shop

In this scenario Google keeps Motorola as is and starts to manufacture it owns handsets.  In reality this could provide short term stability to the fragmented andriod market place and show case devices and move into other screen based markets, but in the long run looks like a new Apple and being open is probably not a true option. Probability in long run 10% as this would not elevate Page to world class strategist who is just following Jobs view of the world.

The negotiator tactic

This is the company official line that the acquisition brings 17,000 patents (but are they relevant) to Google and enables them to robustly defend their mobile position and also expand.  It is a $12.5bn investment to get a seat at the table.  Strategically there is a lot of truth in this as mobile will dominate long term strategy and value. Probability in long run 25% as patents only last for a period….

Power to disrupt

Imagine Google takes the patents, yes they are useful to defend/ negotiate but also to empower others if free and open. This would reduce the power of others in the market and change the dynamics
Imagine Google keeps the patents and sells on production to Samsung to create a global partner across all screens
Imagine Google Wallet becomes the model – forget small transaction fees – lets go for user data in every model
 Probability in long run 65% and Larry Page is now the best strategist in the world and did it without adult supervision.

If you wanted to add you views or comments  post here or at - http://blog.mydigitalfootprint.com/is-the-google-deal-about-larry-pages-desire-t

Hi Everyone,

At Mobile 2.0 2011 — we will have some awesome panels and some really kickbutt interactive Workshops and a fun Reception Party!.  

You will also have the  great opportunity to meet face to face with the Telefonica/BlueVia team, www.bluevia.com.

The BlueVia Team is on a West Coast tour to speak about their unique business model for Mobile Developers.   

Just in case you dont know, Telefonica is one of the top 5 Mobile Carriers world-wide with  leading market positions in Latin America, in countries ike Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico as well as in Europe  in countries like Spain, UK,  and Germany.  This is your chance to learn how to leverage the BlueVia platform to deliver your Apps to all these international markets.

Jose Valles and James Parton, the BlueVia team leaders, would love to tell you more about their unique  Developer program.  If you are a Developer with a great App that wishes to launch internationally dont miss this chance.  Please email us at info@mobile2event.com and we will send you with a special discounted pass.

Look forward to seeing you on September 1st!

Photo Credit: Ariff Shah

HTML5 is not primarily about mobile. It is about the evolution of the Web. It is about the consolidation of the Web platform. The Web has been on an evolution path since the first browsers, roughly speaking from a Web of documents to a Web of applications; from the Web as a document sharing system to the web as an application development and deployment platform. HTML5, and the related APIs, protocols and formats that are often lumped together with it, is simply the latest sign-post on that evolutionary path. The Web has had a profound impact, not only on commerce and industry but on humanity, on the way we now expect to consume information, interact and communicate with others. The Web by its nature is open. It is built primarily on royalty-free standards, it is closely (though not exclusively) tied to open source projects and software, it is diffuse and does not allow for a single point of control. This open Web platform of technologies includes new features that start to bring the Web on a par with native approaches to application development – specifically, off-line use (launching and using a Web application even when not connected to the network), access to device features (geolocation now with more APIs quickly following behind) and fluid UI (smooth animations, touch events, 2d graphics and other technologies needed to provide compelling user experiences). Building Web applications with HTML5 is still software engineering and it is still hard work, but it may make it possible to leverage the abilities of an engineering team already skilled up in the ways of the Web to build (and more importantly revise and maintain) mobile services more easily and at lower cost than maintaing separate teams (or outsourced teams) to build apps on different architectures.

What’s more, the same parties, the same companies, in many cases the same people who promote the “closed” app ecosystems are also pouring resource and money into this open Web ecosystem, a parallel ecosystem. This can make companies like Google and Apple seem schizophrenic at times. But look at the bigger picture. The apps world looms large in mobile, partially because it is the fulfilment of an idea that many people evangelized for many years, but which stubbornly refused to come true. Yes – finally people are using the mobiles for something else other then voice and text. And this use has become mainstream. That’s one way to look at it. But look at it from the Web industry point of view. The developer of a service or application on the Web wants reach – reach to as many platforms as possible for as cheaply as possible. They see mobile as a channel to customers and to more usage of their application. Mobile is only one piece of the puzzle to them – and mobile apps and app stores are only one channel to market.

So what does HTML5 really mean for mobile? If we are to glimpse an answer to that question then we have to move beyond the “web vs. apps” mentality. Application developers need to consider the Web platform along side of the various “native” application development platforms out there as one approach, one potential set of tools, one possible way to reach users, with its unique set of plusses and minuses.

In the end, it is clear that HTML5 will play an important part in this cosmic collision between Web and mobile of which we currently find ourselves a part. The lasting legacy of HTML5 in mobile, however, may be the linking of the evolution of the Web to the evolution of mobile apps. And while the Web may be evolving to be a better platform for mobile apps, and this is a positive step for the Web and for mobile, the more exciting development will be how the Web disrupts app stores by providing a compelling alternative to app stores for service and application discovery.

At Mobile 2.0 this year, I’m glad to say we’ll be exploring some of these issues with a galaxy of stars – people who have been working at the sharp end of the convergence between the mobile and Web and at the sharp end of disruptive innovation in mobile. At one of our afternoon workshops (“Mobile Web Present and Future”) we will be delving deep into the issues of the impact of HTML5 on mobile. We’ll be looking at current best practices for building great mobile applications using HTML5 and related technologies (with James Pearce from Sencha and Mat Womer from W3C – the standards body responsible for HTML5). Then we’ll switch to thinking about the (mobile) Web platform of the future. What’s missing from from the Web platform from a mobile perspective? Scott Jenson, who wrote a compelling piece on this topic earlier this year, will lead this part of the workshop. The intention of this workshop is to “move the needle” – to create help to create a community of practice around these technologies that will last beyond the event itself. I hope you’ll join us.

Photo Credit: Ariff Shah

If you’ve ever seen one of those NASA simulations of galaxies colliding, you’ll know it’s a messy business. Symmetric spirals, serenely evolving and progressing through the universe on their own, suddenly encounter each other. The result is a violent conflagration. Plumes of previously well-ordered stars go shooting off into space, only to be drawn back in and shot out again in another directions; seeming child galaxies form, only to be absorbed again in more churning cataclysms. The time-scales over which this occurs are, of course, astronomical. At human-scale time, all we can ever perceive is a moment, frozen in time.

We are in the middle of such an event right now in both the Web and mobile industries. Our galaxies are colliding; they have been colliding for a number of years; and they will continue to collide for years to come. The result will be a new landscape, a new ecosystem, a new industry. What that industry will look like is not clear, but we can guess at its shape. At this year’s mobile 2.0 conference in San Francisco, we are once again going to take a stab at doing just this.

In 2006, before our first Mobile 2.0 event, when I first sensed the colliding of these two galaxies, I wrote a post about what I thought that future might look like. I stole a page out of the book of Tim O’Reilly in trying to define Mobile 2.0, attempting to use the same approach he used for the (then newly-minted) term “Web 2.0” to get a hold of what I saw happening in the convergence between the Internet/Web and Mobile worlds. One of the key ideas in this post was that the future of mobile was both the Web and connected applications. That view of the world was driven by what I saw happening with the fledgling app ecosystem on (then primarily Nokia / Symbian) connected smartphones and the fledgling mobile Web ecosystem, especially what was going on with webkit-based mobile browsers (also pioneered by Nokia). In my 2006 view of the future, the Web and connected applications would co-exist and (importantly) the Web would be the vector whereby these applications would be discovered, downloaded and installed.

Well, I almost got it right. What I didn’t anticipate was the rise of paid app stores. The bundled app stores (which are apps themselves) has created a gravity around downloadable, installable apps. So – while it has now become possible, on modern smartphones, to find and download apps from a universe of choices, that universe is actually constrained in some very important ways. What you can discover is constrained. How you can pay is constrained. And importantly for the developer, the tools they can use, types of applications they can build, and ways they can make money are, to a greater or lesser degree, constrained.

HTML5 is being touted by many as alternative approach to building apps – apps that would live in the browser in the same away that browser-based apps have started to appear on the PC Web. In some ways, this is true. Some in the mobile industry have jumped on HTML5 as a panacea, finally delivering “write once, run anywhere” apps. It also is being seen as a way around the vertically controlled app ecosystem promoted and maintained by the platform providers.

(Watch out for part 2 of my thoughts on the Web, Mobile and HTML5 soon.)

Hi Everyone,

We are about a month away from Mobile 2.0!    If you have not yet registered, please do so ASAP so we dont sell out before you have a chance to register.    If you send me an email at info@mobile2event.com, mentioning this Blog, I will send you a special discount code

So What Can You Expect at Mobile 2.0 This Year?

There are dozen of Mobile Conferences these days, but often the Audience does not really have an opportunity to ask probing questions of the Speakers and Panelists or to engage in a lively constructive dialogue.  In fact, at most Conferences,  Speakers are making marketing pitches or just following talking points –  before you have the chance to ask any substantive questions, they run off the stage.  

How many times have you heard: “Well, we just did not have time to get to all your great questions” ? What is that all about!  Should not the Conference be about You not about the collective “wisdom” of the Moderators and Speakers?  

This is why, The Mobile 2.0 team,  decided to create a New Format, one in which the entire afternoon is dedicated to interactive Workshops that will last at least 90 minutes. Allowing you the Audience to ask difficult questions, express your views, challenge the collective wisdom of the Panel and hopefully, get the in-depth insights that will help grow your business. 

This is your chance to make Mobile 2.0 as informative, interactive and exciting as your individual contribution makes it.

We look forward to seeing you on September 1st.

Hi Everyone!

This week we publish the Agenda for Mobile 2.0 2011

We begin Open Registration After July 4th.

Please register early,  as we will limit registration to 350 attendees to maintain our small community approach.

The MOBILE 2.0  2011 Conference will be held on September 1, 2011.  This Year, The Mobile 2.0 Organizing Committee proposes to examine the impact of  an “Always On, Always Connected” Mobile World.  We will hold a morning plenary session with a series of panel conversations, followed by interactive workshops in the Afternoon.

Enter for your Chance to Win!

You could win a free trip to SEE 2010 in Amsterdam (Symbian Exchange and Exposition) — an open arena for creators and innovators to engage, exchange, and explore the opportunities that; will drive the industry forward.

A grand-prize package worth almost $2,500!

Enter onsite at Mobile 2.0 on Developer Day. Must be present to win. See the full contest rules for details.