Nokia’s 1 billion opportunity: A China Lumia launch Article
An incredible change in distribution, the mobile media industry Nokia is expected to release Lumia smartphones in China on March 28. According to DigiTimes, China’s three operators (Unicom, Telecom, and Mobile) have almost one billion subscribers to mobile phones. Nokia’s Lumia phones are already widely distributed in the United States. Selling Lumia phones in China which is one of the most populated countries in the world would increase revenues for Nokia and Microsoft. A billion subscribers who are interested in purchasing Nokia cell phones is an incredible opportunity for Nokia to make some money and make their top of the line phones available in China. Definitely, mobile media industries like Nokia who are selling smartphones to China are changing the economic distribution of a successful product that can be more successful in a foreign country. In fact, it is vital to realize that Nokia is making a beneficial gambit in their mobile industry by not just having their phones available in the United States, but thinking out the box by distributing and make ingenious business deals with China’s operators. In addition, Nokia launching an affordable but efficient smartphones in countries like China is making a beneficial change in the mobile media industry in increasing sales. Due to increased competition with mobile industries like Apple Inc, Nokia is increasing their sales by making their reputable cell phones like Lumia 800 and 719C accessible in China. Economic distributions made by companies like Nokia is keeping the mobile media industry afloat with profits and making technological changes to produce better smartphones.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representative announced that the agency will take a new look at the current ban on use of e-readers like the Kindle and Nook, during take-off and landing. In line with a 2006 Personal Electronics Rule, U.S. airlines ban the use of all electronic devices during these two times and any consequences of such use is the sole responsibility of the user. The FAA hopes to gather members of all parties, including airlines and manufactures at a conference to reevaluate the ban and, hopefully, attain some cost-effective solutions beneficial for all interests. It is worth noting that Smartphone use is not included in the review. E-readers, like the Kindle, come with a function that disconnects the device from a wireless network, essentially rendering it a digital book. One possible solution might be ensuring that all reading devices are simply switched off of the wireless network during take-off and landing. Of course, the manner in which this might be enforced or monitored by the flight staff presents another set of problems.It is beneficial, however, that these old rules are being reevaluated against the needs and constraints of newer technology. With the collection of wireless and handheld devices growing more popular, it is necessary for companies to stay in step with consumer demand. Airlines, too, must acknowledge some of the demands of passengers, or they might start losing money. Posted By: Brittany McShea
Does Size Matter for Smartphone Screens?Articlel
Smartphones are used for more than just making calls and texting, hints the term "smart." Now one can browse the web, take pictures, shoot videos, engage in social networks and download as many applications as needed. With the plethora of activities that one can do, there is no surprise that "Almost 90 percent of existing smartphone owners stated they would choose a prototype smartphone with a larger screen" compared to the one they currently use. As Smartphones continue to be the driving trend for accessing media content and daily usage, one may wonder if the size of the screen has an affect on how much a person may use their phone so do such tasks.
A survey asked consumers "Does size matter for Smartphone screens?" Many stated they prefer devices with screens that range of 4.5 inches. I would have to agree with that demographic. Not only will a larger screen be more beneficial by enabling better imagery but it may also sustain the users' health. Have you noticed that many people tend to hold their phone close to their face when reading content. Even with the zoom in function, at times viewing content on your mobile can be strenuous. Looking at content for an extensive amount of time on these small devices can lead to damaging eye sight in the future. We don't want to be the blind generation because we are so consumed into our phones. Besides, tablets have also become a best buy cancelling the need to have all the other amenities that come along with a smartphone. Check out the article for more information on the "Phablet", the combination of a smartphone and tablet. Could this be new competition for the media industry?
Posted by Kristin Grant NetZero reinvents itself as a 4G ISP – and yes, there’s a free planOriginal Article
NetZero was the first Internet Service Provider to offer dial-up Internet access for free in the late nineties, and now they’re back offering mobile broadband service for free. Customers can receive 200 MB of data each month for a whole year free of charge. Once that year is up they can decide to stay with the company and purchase a monthly plan, or just walk away. Staying true to their roots, NetZero’s monthly plans are inexpensive (ranging from $9.95 to $49.95 per month without any contracts) and once users exceed their data allowance they are not charged overage fees, their service just stops functioning. Another great feature of the NetZero mobile broadband is the company is allowing users to slow down their broadband speeds to help lower their monthly usage, a feature no other mobile provider has. There are some drawbacks to NetZero’s mobile broadband and the main one is its speed. NetZero’s coverage provider Clearwire is not up to date on 4G speeds and therefore devices on the broadband network would not generate content as quickly as with other service providers; however, NetZero does not believe speed will be their customers’ primary motive.
Mobile broadband is extremely expensive and therefore many Americans choose not to purchase it, relying on Wifi-hotspots in public areas. Paying for mobile broadband first requires the purchase of a device, then signing up for a phone plan and worst of all committing to a long-term contract. With NetZero, there are no contracts and all a user needs to access the Internet from a mobile device is the device itself. NetZero challenged Internet Service Providers in the nineties by offering free dial-up Internet and they are challenging mobile media now. NetZero is putting the power back into the hands of the consumer; while mobile broadband providers charge obscene amounts to access valuable content on the go, NetZero is doing the opposite providing the content for free. NetZero providing mobile broadband for free is a clear example of how the media landscape is changing, favoring the consumer much more than the traditional producers. Mobile devices enhance user’s ability to access information and entertainment on the go and now NetZero is planning to make it easier and more affordable.
Posted by: Veronica Elliott Where is Mobile Gaming Happening? At Home, In BedBy Ryan Kimoriginal article When we think of mobile gaming, we think of people playing these games when they are on the move. We imagine games such as Angry Birds and Draw Something (popular mobile media apps) are played outside of the home, but a survey done by Mocospace (a mobile entertainment site) says that ninety-six percent of users play mobile games at home. Fifty-three percent of users who play at home play from their bed.
There are three reasons why this article is significant. First, mobile gaming is slowly becoming a threat to console gaming at home. If more people enjoy playing with their smartphones and tablets, then they will not see a need to buy a game consule. Second, this survey shows us how attached we are to our mobile media devices. From the time we wake up and check our notifications/emails to the time we go to sleep to play a mobile game, our mobile devices can already be considered as part of ourselves.
Finally, this survey is important because it brings about a question that we should all be concerned of: to what extent should we stop using our mobile media devices? Should there be a time when we stop using our devices? Most of us are so wired in everyday that one might question if we have enough time to fully engage in real life interactions with other people.
I would like to think that we spend more time actually talking to people than being so engaged in our devices, but more dependant I am of my smartphone, the less I’m believing the previous statement.
The buzzword in the mobile media world this week is "highlight", and CEO Paul Davinson doesn't mean "highlight"your paper. Highlight, a free application available for download on iPhones only, allows users to connect with friends and networks according to interests. More notably, this app "highlights" these connections and notifies users when friends (or friends of friends) within 100 meters of each other. When you are notified that a friend is near by, you have the option of sending them a message.Genius or creepy?
The opinions on this new form of social networking seem to vary. One of the biggest concerns surrounding the application is privacy. Davison argues against that notion, explaining that users have complete control over their privacy with a "pause" command. But is a meed pause button enough to get people to jump on board without running into grandma or an ex girlfriend and dodging into the opposite direction? I would think not. In my opinion, the highlight application should rid of the forced "friends of friends" connection for now. Designers should take some note from Facebook's "degrees of subscription" that their users can assign to specific friends and pages (subscribe, unsubscribe, subscribe only to important updates, hide, unhide etc.).
Although Davison's recognizes the potential "creepiness" of the app, he emphasizes that "you have to weight the social benefits of using Highlight against the cost of giving up a little bit of your privacy". I agree with Davinson's prediction that this app will spread first through the people who accept and appreciate its potential, and following this the people who initially did not jump on board, will demand space on the bandwagon. This, of course, is going to require the app creators to show users they can be trusted. This app, indeed, will be a revolutionary concept... but along with it will probably be some pissed off wives, grounded teenagers, and creepy ex girlfriends.
By Julie Bell
NetZero was the first Internet Service Provider to offer dial-up Internet access for free in the late nineties, and now they’re back offering mobile broadband service for free. Customers can receive 200 MB of data each month for a whole year free of charge. Once that year is up they can decide to stay with the company and purchase a monthly plan, or just walk away. Staying true to their roots, NetZero’s monthly plans are inexpensive (ranging from $9.95 to $49.95 per month without any contracts) and once users exceed their data allowance they are not charged overage fees, their service just stops functioning. Another great feature of the NetZero mobile broadband is the company is allowing users to slow down their broadband speeds to help lower their monthly usage, a feature no other mobile provider has. There are some drawbacks to NetZero’s mobile broadband and the main one is its speed. NetZero’s coverage provider Clearwire is not up to date on 4G speeds and therefore devices on the broadband network would not generate content as quickly as with other service providers; however, NetZero does not believe speed will be their customers’ primary motive. Mobile broadband is extremely expensive and therefore many Americans choose not to purchase it, relying on Wifi-hotspots in public areas. Paying for mobile broadband first requires the purchase of a device, then signing up for a phone plan and worst of all committing to a long-term contract. With NetZero, there are no contracts and all a user needs to access the Internet from a mobile device is the device itself. NetZero challenged Internet Service Providers in the nineties by offering free dial-up Internet and they are challenging mobile media now. NetZero is putting the power back into the hands of the consumer; while mobile broadband providers charge obscene amounts to access valuable content on the go, NetZero is doing the opposite providing the content for free. NetZero providing mobile broadband for free is a clear example of how the media landscape is changing, favoring the consumer much more than the traditional producers. Mobile devices enhance user’s ability to access information and entertainment on the go and now Net
Nokia’s 1 billion opportunity: A China Lumia launch ArticleAn incredible change in distribution, the mobile media industry Nokia is expected to release Lumia smartphones in China on March 28. According to DigiTimes, China’s three operators (Unicom, Telecom, and Mobile) have almost one billion subscribers to mobile phones. Nokia’s Lumia phones are already widely distributed in the United States. Selling Lumia phones in China which is one of the most populated countries in the world would increase revenues for Nokia and Microsoft. A billion subscribers who are interested in purchasing Nokia cell phones is an incredible opportunity for Nokia to make some money and make their top of the line phones available in China. Definitely, mobile media industries like Nokia who are selling smartphones to China are changing the economic distribution of a successful product that can be more successful in a foreign country. In fact, it is vital to realize that Nokia is making a beneficial gambit in their mobile industry by not just having their phones available in the United States, but thinking out the box by distributing and make ingenious business deals with China’s operators. In addition, Nokia launching an affordable but efficient smartphones in countries like China is making a beneficial change in the mobile media industry in increasing sales. Due to increased competition with mobile industries like Apple Inc, Nokia is increasing their sales by making their reputable cell phones like Lumia 800 and 719C accessible in China. Economic distributions made by companies like Nokia is keeping the mobile media industry afloat with profits and making technological changes to produce better smartphones.
By: Lincoln Kang
FAA Reviewing Changes to In-Flight E-Reader Use
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representative announced that the agency will take a new look at the current ban on use of e-readers like the Kindle and Nook, during take-off and landing. In line with a 2006 Personal Electronics Rule, U.S. airlines ban the use of all electronic devices during these two times and any consequences of such use is the sole responsibility of the user. The FAA hopes to gather members of all parties, including airlines and manufactures at a conference to reevaluate the ban and, hopefully, attain some cost-effective solutions beneficial for all interests. It is worth noting that Smartphone use is not included in the review. E-readers, like the Kindle, come with a function that disconnects the device from a wireless network, essentially rendering it a digital book. One possible solution might be ensuring that all reading devices are simply switched off of the wireless network during take-off and landing. Of course, the manner in which this might be enforced or monitored by the flight staff presents another set of problems. It is beneficial, however, that these old rules are being reevaluated against the needs and constraints of newer technology. With the collection of wireless and handheld devices growing more popular, it is necessary for companies to stay in step with consumer demand. Airlines, too, must acknowledge some of the demands of passengers, or they might start losing money.
Posted By: Brittany McShea
Does Size Matter for Smartphone Screens?Articlel
Smartphones are used for more than just making calls and texting, hints the term "smart." Now one can browse the web, take pictures, shoot videos, engage in social networks and download as many applications as needed. With the plethora of activities that one
can do, there is no surprise that "Almost 90 percent of existing smartphone owners stated they would choose a prototype smartphone with a larger screen" compared to the one they currently use. As Smartphones continue to be the driving trend for accessing media content and daily usage, one may wonder if the size of the screen has an affect on how much a person may use their phone so do such tasks.
A survey asked consumers "Does size matter for Smartphone screens?" Many stated they prefer devices with screens that range of 4.5 inches. I would have to agree with that demographic. Not only will a larger screen be more beneficial by enabling better imagery but it may also sustain the users' health. Have you noticed that many people tend to hold their phone close to their face when reading content. Even with the zoom in function, at times viewing content on your mobile can be strenuous. Looking at content for an extensive amount of time on these small devices can lead to damaging eye sight in the future. We don't want to be the blind generation because we are so consumed into our phones. Besides, tablets have also become a best buy cancelling the need to have all the other amenities that come along with a smartphone. Check out the article for more information on the "Phablet", the combination of a smartphone and tablet. Could this be new competition for the media industry?
Posted by Kristin Grant
NetZero reinvents itself as a 4G ISP – and yes, there’s a free planOriginal Article
Mobile broadband is extremely expensive and therefore many Americans choose not to purchase it, relying on Wifi-hotspots in public areas. Paying for mobile broadband first requires the purchase of a device, then signing up for a phone plan and worst of all committing to a long-term contract. With NetZero, there are no contracts and all a user needs to access the Internet from a mobile device is the device itself. NetZero challenged Internet Service Providers in the nineties by offering free dial-up Internet and they are challenging mobile media now. NetZero is putting the power back into the hands of the consumer; while mobile broadband providers charge obscene amounts to access valuable content on the go, NetZero is doing the opposite providing the content for free. NetZero providing mobile broadband for free is a clear example of how the media landscape is changing, favoring the consumer much more than the traditional producers. Mobile devices enhance user’s ability to access information and entertainment on the go and now NetZero is planning to make it easier and more affordable.
Posted by: Veronica Elliott
Where is Mobile Gaming Happening? At Home, In BedBy Ryan Kim original article
When we think of mobile gaming, we think of people playing these games when they are on the move. We imagine games such as Angry Birds and Draw Something (popular mobile media apps) are played outside of the home, but a survey done by Mocospace (a mobile entertainment site) says that ninety-six percent of users play mobile games at home. Fifty-three percent of users who play at home play from their bed.
There are three reasons why this article is significant. First, mobile gaming is slowly becoming a threat to console gaming at home. If more people enjoy playing with their smartphones and tablets, then they will not see a need to buy a game consule. Second, this survey shows us how attached we are to our mobile media devices. From the time we wake up and check our notifications/emails to the time we go to sleep to play a mobile game, our mobile devices can already be considered as part of ourselves.
Finally, this survey is important because it brings about a question that we should all be concerned of: to what extent should we stop using our mobile media devices? Should there be a time when we stop using our devices? Most of us are so wired in everyday that one might question if we have enough time to fully engage in real life interactions with other people.
I would like to think that we spend more time actually talking to people than being so engaged in our devices, but more dependant I am of my smartphone, the less I’m believing the previous statement.
Posted by: Muriel Magadia
Highlight: Super-hot. What now?
Original Article
The buzzword in the mobile media world this week is "highlight", and CEO Paul Davinson doesn't mean "highlight"your paper. Highlight, a free application available for download on iPhones only, allows users to connect with friends and networks according to interests. More notably, this app "highlights" these connections and notifies users when friends (or friends of friends) within 100 meters of each other. When you are notified that a friend is near by, you have the option of sending them a message.Genius or creepy?
The opinions on this new form of social networking seem to vary. One of the biggest concerns surrounding the application is privacy. Davison argues against that notion, explaining that users have complete control over their privacy with a "pause" command. But is a meed pause button enough to get people to jump on board without running into grandma or an ex girlfriend and dodging into the opposite direction? I would think not. In my opinion, the highlight application should rid of the forced "friends of friends" connection for now. Designers should take some note from Facebook's "degrees of subscription" that their users can assign to specific friends and pages (subscribe, unsubscribe, subscribe only to important updates, hide, unhide etc.).
Although Davison's recognizes the potential "creepiness" of the app, he emphasizes that "you have to weight the social benefits of using Highlight against the cost of giving up a little bit of your privacy". I agree with Davinson's prediction that this app will spread first through the people who accept and appreciate its potential, and following this the people who initially did not jump on board, will demand space on the bandwagon. This, of course, is going to require the app creators to show users they can be trusted. This app, indeed, will be a revolutionary concept... but along with it will probably be some pissed off wives, grounded teenagers, and creepy ex girlfriends.
By Julie Bell
NetZero was the first Internet Service Provider to offer dial-up Internet access for free in the late nineties, and now they’re back offering mobile broadband service for free. Customers can receive 200 MB of data each month for a whole year free of charge. Once that year is up they can decide to stay with the company and purchase a monthly plan, or just walk away. Staying true to their roots, NetZero’s monthly plans are inexpensive (ranging from $9.95 to $49.95 per month without any contracts) and once users exceed their data allowance they are not charged overage fees, their service just stops functioning. Another great feature of the NetZero mobile broadband is the company is allowing users to slow down their broadband speeds to help lower their monthly usage, a feature no other mobile provider has. There are some drawbacks to NetZero’s mobile broadband and the main one is its speed. NetZero’s coverage provider Clearwire is not up to date on 4G speeds and therefore devices on the broadband network would not generate content as quickly as with other service providers; however, NetZero does not believe speed will be their customers’ primary motive.
Mobile broadband is extremely expensive and therefore many Americans choose not to purchase it, relying on Wifi-hotspots in public areas. Paying for mobile broadband first requires the purchase of a device, then signing up for a phone plan and worst of all committing to a long-term contract. With NetZero, there are no contracts and all a user needs to access the Internet from a mobile device is the device itself. NetZero challenged Internet Service Providers in the nineties by offering free dial-up Internet and they are challenging mobile media now. NetZero is putting the power back into the hands of the consumer; while mobile broadband providers charge obscene amounts to access valuable content on the go, NetZero is doing the opposite providing the content for free. NetZero providing mobile broadband for free is a clear example of how the media landscape is changing, favoring the consumer much more than the traditional producers. Mobile devices enhance user’s ability to access information and entertainment on the go and now Net