So, what’s been going on in these past few months? Well, Textopoly is now one of the fastest growing companies in Orange County, we won the 2010 Interactive Marketing [...]]]> Fans rejoice! Your favorite blogger is back! It’s been awhile since my last blog post, I’ve been a busy man. Happy New Year to all of you!

So, what’s been going on in these past few months? Well, Textopoly is now one of the fastest growing companies in Orange County, we won the 2010 Interactive Marketing Award, our mobile lab has been running on all cylinders with projects for Yamaha, Google, Scanbuy and others, and on top of all that, my brother just got married! Needless to say, it’s been a busy few months. And yes, for those who are wondering, the bachelor party was awesome!

Now that we got that out of the way, what’s going on in mobile!? Well, as always, A LOT! With the high success of the iPad, and the app store in all its glory, rival companies have been trying to get a piece of the action! Samsung’s Galaxy seems to be OK, its running off the popular android system which leaves an open market for applications. However, the more anticipated Blackberry Playbook seems to be a more comparable rival. As of now, we don’t know much about it, except for the fact that it’s going to have the fastest processor available, a video chat function, true multitasking (although it just so happens to be very reminiscent of Palms’ multifunction technology), and a much needed USB drive.

My personal opinion is that this Blackberry product will finally give the developers a reason to improve their app store! Because really, besides downloading the Facebook and Pandora application, what other application would you ever download from the blackberry app store? I’ve always loved blackberry, I think they have a high quality product, but it just needs to be attractive! I’m hoping that with the playbook (great name) they can finally start getting the high recognition that will eventually lead to more app development.

The other highly anticipated product is Palms Topaz Tablet. As many of you know, HP acquired Palm, and initially had not intention of continuing the mobile side of Palm! However that’s changed (thank god) and we’re all awaiting the big announcements of the tablet, as well as the new mobile handsets rumored to be show cased on February 9, 2011.

I for one can’t wait for all of these new products to come out! I’m definitely going to purchase one of the personal tablets, just not sure which one yet!

- Want to chat more about the iPad, Playbook, and Topaz!? Contact me at asif[at]Textopoly[dot]com. You can help me pick one! Till next time friends!

Mobile usage across the globe is growing faster and stronger than a 13 year old girl can say Justin Bieber! First, let me hit you with some facts:

-          According to the International Telecommunications [...]]]> You want exposure? You want people to know about your brand, your product, or your service; well the answer is in your pocket!

Mobile usage across the globe is growing faster and stronger than a 13 year old girl can say Justin Bieber! First, let me hit you with some facts:

-          According to the International Telecommunications Union, mobile subscribers will surpass 5 billion in 2010, which is over 70% of the global population! The world population in April was 6.8 billion! The ITU says growth is being driven by advanced services and handsets in developed countries and increased take-up of mobile health services and mobile banking in the developing world.

-          Gartner (March 2010) predicts that by 2011, over 85% of new handsets will be able to access the Mobile Web!

-          LeBron was never the king, SMS ruled all! According to Portfolio Research (Feb. 2010)

• SMS is used by 4 billion consumers worldwide
• In 2009 worldwide SMS traffic topped five trillion messages, and that figure is set to exceed 10 trillion in 2013.
• MMS, mobile email and mobile IM are all growing strongly. The driver for MMS is the number of camera phones, for mobile email is the business market and while IM is popular with the youth market.
• The global mobile messaging business is worth over US$150 billion, and will hit US$233 billion by 2014.

If your brand isn’t capable of reaching more than 2 million people, you’re not using mobile! And if you’re not using mobile, you are definitely not at full potential! Check the facts, call us up, let’s have some lunch, and then drop it like it’s hot.

Want to be at full potential? Email me at: asif[at]textopoly[dot]com. – P.S. – I don’t think Miami is going to win the championship this year.

http://leep.it/jy

Let’s chat about it! Holla at me at: asif[at]textopoly[dot]com

So, here is my tale… my co-work Karla and I are driving down Bristol in Costa Mesa because we were trying [...]]]> This is going to be a ‘rant’ filled blog about how much I hate Google Maps.  So, if you like Google Maps, sorry, bottom line it’s unreliable, and for god sake, blue dot? Come ON!

So, here is my tale… my co-work Karla and I are driving down Bristol in Costa Mesa because we were trying to get to Jo-Anna’s Fabric (don’t ask), and since I had no idea where one was, I opened up my Google Maps, clicked on search, and typed in Jo-Anna’s Fabric; within an instant I was given 10 optional locations. So, I picked the first one as it was the nearest to us. The directions clearly stated, head North on Bristol, turn Right on Warner, turn Left on Fairview, etc… well, we went North on Bristol, then turned Right on Warner, but were unable to turn Left on Fairview, want to know why…? Because it wasn’t there! I was supposed to turn LEFT on Warner not RIGHT!  But, according to the blue dot, and the route summery, I was headed in the right direction! Then, all of a sudden I run into a dead end! *$&#*

I’ve always said, I hate Google Maps, it’s never right! I love Sprint Navigation. Truly if you are ever deciding what carrier to jump on, I would suggest Sprint. I’ve had their service for over 6 months now and I’ve had zero dropped calls, great customer service, very fast mobile browsing, an amazing Sprint Navigation System, and great television on Sprint TV! I’ve had AT&T, horrible reception, never got anyone nice on the phone, very slow 3G speed even when I had the iPhone 3GS, and way too pricey!

Getting back to Google Maps, what is the deal? Why can they not generate proper directions? I love the search functionality; however the map is so bogus! Are they not using an updated map? Sometimes they can’t even find addresses! What is up with that!? Don’t believe me? Try typing in 188 Cooper Creek, Dallas, GA doesn’t even show up! I know that house is there!

Google, please listen, the reason why Apple is so successful and hardly has any issues with any of their devices and/or products in general, is because they do one thing at a time. This allows them to perfect the product and or service allowing no room for competition. They have the perfect phone, they have the perfect music player, they have the perfect impractical (my opinion) device in the iPad, they have the best Apps (Android market is subpar), and on top of that, people always feel cooler and above the ‘rest’ when they own an Apple product! I really hope that Apple makes its own mapping system.

-Want to chat some more? Get at me at: asif[at]textopoly[dot]com-

First EVER LIVE fashion show exclusively on iPhone

Shop Ralph Lauren from your MOBILE! – Your boss won’t even know your doing it!

Is your product [...]]]> Do you shop at Armani Exchange? How about American Eagle? D&G? Or maybe you are a Ralph Lauren type… Well, whatever fashion designer you fancy, they are all available via MOBILE!!

First EVER LIVE fashion show exclusively on iPhone

Shop Ralph Lauren from your MOBILE! – Your boss won’t even know your doing it!

Is your product or service this accessible? Do you want to be? You know who to call… 

Want to chat some more about mobile in general and/or anything at all?! Get at me: asif[at]textopoly[dot]com!

In 2007: Ace Hardware Corp. ends bid to transition from a co-op after discovering $154 million accounting error. – http://leep.it/eE

In 2008: Total revenues for the first quarter [...]]]> When was the last time you were in Ace Hardware? Better yet, when was the last time Ace Hardware crossed your mind when doing any kind of home improvement?!

In 2007: Ace Hardware Corp. ends bid to transition from a co-op after discovering $154 million accounting error. – http://leep.it/eE

In 2008: Total revenues for the first quarter of 2008 decreased $67.8 million, or 7.2 percent, to $872.1 million. Total continuing merchandise sales in the first quarter of 2008 declined 6.4 percent while retail service revenues declined 13.1 percent. – http://leep.it/eF

In 2009: After excluding certain non-comparable items, Ace reported adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization expenses) of $30.9 million for the first quarter of 2009 as compared to $31.2 million in the prior year quarter. – http://leep.it/eG

In 2010: Ace Hardware mobile ads drive 60 percent increase in brand awareness – http://leep.it/eH

Ace Hardware went from a company that reported losses, after losses, after losses, to a company now tapping into a market they never knew existed! Ace Hardware is now, all over the place – over 15,000 fans on Facebook, over 4,000 total followers on Twitter, and now a mobile WAP site! Check out .m.acehardware.com on your mobile and download coupons, find a store, and get linked to either there Facebook page, or their Twitter! All I have to say is, GO ACE!

Want to chat about mobile or Ace Hardware? Email me at asif[at]textopoly[dot]com.

Ohhhh little brother… You have so much more to live and learn. Kudos on the attempt though!

We can at least agree on the fact that AT&T’s network is anemic at best. However, when comparing the HTC Hero and Apple iPhone, both of which I have also owned and operated, [...]]]> In response to Shehzad’s “HTC…No One’s Hero”

Ohhhh little brother… You have so much more to live and learn. Kudos on the attempt though!

We can at least agree on the fact that AT&T’s network is anemic at best. However, when comparing the HTC Hero and Apple iPhone, both of which I have also owned and operated, I still feel as though the HTC, for my purposes is far greater than the iPhone.

Let me address a few of your ‘points…’

1)   Size Always Matters

You are definitely correct, the HTC Hero is 10% smaller than the Apple iPhone; I don’t have a huge bulge in my hip pocket when I have the HTC Hero. However, this does not necessarily mean that it is less functional when using the virtual keyboard. I can type text messages and directions just as fast, and when the HTC Hero predicts the word you are trying to type it’s at least close if not exactly what you want to type!

2)   HTC Hero = Non- Sense mobile phone

I’ll give you this one. Yes, I agree they should have made a sensor to when you put the phone to your ear it would lock the screen.

2a) HTC Hero = Social Media Guru

One of the other things that the HTC Hero does a lot better than the iPhone, is keep me connected with all my friends and family! Its’ simple integration with my Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter account, keeps me updated on all the ‘status changes’ and organizes my messages from my friends, and overall lets me stay in touch with everyone no matter where I am! I don’t even need the Facebook mobile application! With the iPhone, I have click on the stupid Facebook application, click on ‘home’ to view status updates, click on ‘profile’ to view my profile, why couldn’t they make it all integrated?!

3)   Alphabetically? Really?

The menu button in the HTC Hero is really just a buy-product. They didn’t care about it because you can customize your home screen or any of the remaining 6 screens to have whatever you want on them! For example, on my home screen I have the most common items I use: contacts, Pandora, messages, email, and browser. If I flick the screen to the left, it has all of my wireless amenities, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, etc. I customize my phone to fit me and therefore never use the menu button! Furthermore, even if it is in alphabetical order, who cares, it’s so much easier to find things! When I had my iPhone, things were all over the place, and never in order, unless I customized them.

In conclusion, the iPhone is a good phone, its easy to use and meant for every Tom, Dick, and Harry, however, when you really want a phone to do a man’s job, get the HTC Hero, it’s a Hero and a Hero always wins!

PS: Let’s not forget, this is HTC’s first attempt against the iPhone, which is in its 3^rd generation. As soon as HTC gets a bit more comfortable, I have no doubt they will out do the iPhone in every category.

Want to chat about mobile over lunch!? My treat! Email me at: Asif[at]textopoly[dot]com