An opportunity?

Was observing my daughter on the computer this afternoon. She was actively Facebooking with friends logged onto FB, while at the same time actively texting on her phone with those that were not logged onto FB. This seems like one of those situations that should be made easier. Sort of like when we all had several devices on our hips that eventually were merged into the modern day cell or smart phone.

I know there is the ability to update facebook and get facebook messages through SMS on a cell, but for some reason that feels difficult and may take longer than it really needs to. Or maybe this all that needs to happen.

What are your thoughts, keep in mind not everyone has a smart phone so those really cool FB apps for phones are cool, but not available to everyone.

Google Voice, A Definate Home Run!

OK, when I heard about Google Voice months ago I thought it was a really cool idea. I just got my number and set it up with other numbers. This product is revolutionary! It is totally awesome. Enrollment was painless and fast. All features tested out great. The web page is well done and easy to use. Google really hit a home run. I can't wait to share this with others. Here are some the features I thought were really cool.

• Calls to one number (my google number) are forwarded to all numbers registered simultaneously
• Voice mail collected at my google number is stored online and translated into text. You can also play it back.
• I can listen into voice mail being left, real-time (ok, that is kinda creepy)
• Text messages of a voice mail are sent to a forwarded phone and also translated to text
• And tons more.

Oh and check out the call widget on the left. Clicking on that will connect your phone and my forwarded phone. Right now I have it setup to only go to voice mail. Give it a try and leave me a message.

Recent news in the Wireless, Mobile Application, and Telecom Scene

I have been reviewing and categorizing my tweets over the last few weeks and found, not surprisingly, that a large number fall under this topic. So I though I would take this time to point out some of the hot spots and not so hot spots during this time.

First there was the announcement of the Intel and Nokia agreement allowing Intel chips to be used in Nokia phones. You may be thinking, why does this matter. Here are couple of thoughts on why this matters.

• The companies would like to build a new platform beyond Smartphones, Notebooks, and Netbooks.
• Intel will be licensing the HSPA (High Speed Packet Access with 600 Mbps - 1200 Mbps range in rate) technology from Nokia. This is faster than the current EVDO, but slower, of course, than LTE. The 3G technology of HSPA would be added wifi and wiMAX that Intel already offers in their chipset.
• Big step forward in the convergence of Computing and Communication

On another note there has been lots of talk about Dell re-entering the market with a handheld Internet device. This is basically a smartphone without the phone. It would be built on the Android platform from Google. It would have all the benefits of Internet access (browsing, IM, Texting, etc) along with the ability to download apps. Seems like a good idea. Some big competition with the iTouch, and not really sure Dell's heart is in to it this time around.

This one is cool. AT&T is going to start offering a wireless network on Amtrak trains. Always wondered when a carrier was going to do this. Sure will make the rides go faster.

Here is a link to what I think is a really good compare/contrast of the iPhone and the Pre. A must read before purchase of either device.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/07/01/palm_pre_v_iphone_3gs/

US Texting Champ, a 14 year old from Des Moines, Iowa, sends 14,000 messages/month and up to 470 message daily! She won $50k. Hey that is almost a full ride scholarship to college.

Ever wonder what the impact of the Android by Google will have on the Smartphone industry? I think it is potentially huge. Here is article that outlines how Android is changing the face of the Smartphone.

http://www.crn.com/mobile/218100828;jsessionid=KWPMTXY0AGSAUQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN

• T-Mobile just announced the second smartphone they will offer that is based on the Android
• Android is more personal
• Is the most open ended experience yet
• Focused on a Customer to Business experience
• Faster, more software releases
• It is all about the software

And, don't forget that Adobe Flash is coming soon to Android as well as WinMo and WebOS. For some reason Apple is really quiet about getting Flash on the iPhone. My opinion, there must still be some tension between the two companies.

Mobile and Location Based Wireless Presence

Presence is best described through the example of most Instant Messaging software. Simply put it is a way for software and systems to always know the availability of the users. This is also being extended to the wireless communications world with Push to Talk features on phones. I am thinking that it will need to used for any peer to peer application.

So, the question is how will this work. It especially becomes an interesting problem when the status of the peer is changing constantly, as would be in the case of location based peer to peer applications. It seems unreasonable to have the application constantly sending messages with a new status of the presence, but is that the way it gets done today? Is there a technology that enables presence?

Killer Apps

I have been reading two good books lately by Tomi Ahonen.

• "Services for UMTS"
• "m-Profits"

I am really starting to understand the 6 Ms method of determining killer apps. I highly recommend the read. Here are the 6 Ms as described in these books.

1. Mobile: Must be mobile and enable the free movement of the user and service
2. Moment: Relevant to the time of day or delivered at the crucial moment
3. Money: Must generate money while delivering value
4. Me: The user wants what they want not what we want – My content, my services, my interests, supports my work needs, makes my life easier
5. Machines: Services must come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. The must be usable from many different devices from home, the office, vehicle, phone, and more
6. Multi-User: Creates a sense of community. People want to belong to something, anything. Information travels and improves faster within a community