Textopoly Mobile Blog » apple

Eons Beyond Text

Naushad — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:50:47 +0000

While getting coffee I began chatting with some folks in the same building. As social norm dictate, we respectively inquired about what the other did. When I said “mobile marketing and engagement,” the immediate response was, “So you send out mass texts to everyone?” … Not exactly buddy.

Mobile marketing is still relatively new, and while people in the industry are talking about its evolution and how HTML5 and iAds allow for even more interaction with mobile users the rest of the world is still trying to get a grasp on what mobile marketing is at the most basic levels.

In a visual format, Google’s Mobile Marketing campaign for AdMob shows it best. Mobile marketing is much more a part of people’s lives than most realize. Every time an ad pops up when you’re playing Angry Birds, or when a redirect link appears in a text message, browser that pops up after you scan a QR code, or when you use a mobile site, you are using something created by a mobile marketing agencies like Textopoly. So what’s next?

Before I go on, I have a disclaimer: this blog is NOT about predictions, there are plenty of those out there. Nor will you hear me utter the now banal phrase “the year of mobile”. Instead, I’m just going to give a perspective on where I see a key area within the sphere of “mobile” going – the key area I speak of is mobile advertising.

Just the other week Google/AdMob released some staggering numbers. Google/AdMob is now receiving 2 billion ad requests per day, a data point which has quadrupled over the past year. With mobile impression numbers staggering to Everest heights, there has to be a way to stand out from the masses. And, there is.

Mobile sites and Mobile ad experiences are getting their sexy on. The graphics are top-tier, the information requested from the user is minimal and to the point, and the content is becoming more and more evolved. With platforms like iAd “you get access to the Apple audience, the world’s most engaged, passionate, and loyal consumer” who “engages with iAd ads for an average of 60 seconds per visit.” 60 seconds is a long time to capture someone’s attention. With technology like HTML5 it is easy to fill 60 seconds with multimedia and graphical content allowing for more advanced advertising on mobile devices including tablets all within a browser environment.

So where is mobile advertising going? To a world where the companies and customers can have a conversation through technology. A world where customers can directly give feedback through how far they are willing to engage in a company’s mobile advertisement. A world that’s eons beyond a text message.

Apple vs. Android vs. RIM vs. Palm

Asif — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:50:04 +0000

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!

Apple is breaking up with Quattro Wireless!

Kang — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:22:17 +0000

Apple is not accepting anymore mobile ad campaigns and are closing down current ad campaigns through the Quattro Wireless ad network. Back in January, Apple purchased Quattro Wireless for a cool $275 million and it seems like they are already over the ad network after 8 months. With so much money invested into their new mobile ad network, I have to wonder what the reasoning behind Apple closing shop on their new cross platform ad network to focus on the iAd network?

This is good news for mobile advertising companies that have clients looking to execute mobile advertising on Android and other non-Apple platforms. There will be more available inventory options for smaller mobile ad players. However it will be impossible to execute a iAd campaign for a medium to smaller brand since the minimum buy is $10 million to execute. So really it’s a double edge sword, Apple has brought the light of understanding to major brands that big mobile media buys will be a norm and happen frequently. The catch is that no one with less than a $10 million for their mobile media budget will be able to run ads on iAds network.

Apple has always developed all their products to exist in an Apple eco-system. I think when Apple purchased Quattro, it was a little bit of a shock that they were extending their reach beyond the eco-system of their products. Perhaps Apple felt pressure due to the highly popularized and drawn out Google and Admob acquisition? Or was it an attempt to maintain dominance, they purchased a massive ad network to gain more control over their inventory? One thing is for sure, Apple is casting off the non-Apple inventory and ceasing to run campaigns on Quattro’s network of publishers. So what gives Apple?! I understand that you have $40 Billion in cash alone and $275 million won’t break or make you; but what do you have up your sleeve?

iPad + Le Mans Race = Exposure at Crack Speeds

Asif — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:54:25 +0000

With over 3 million iPad’s sold, why wouldn’t you advertise on iPad! Audi gave owners of the iPad a chance to attend last weekend’s “24 Hours of Le Mans” auto race. At least virtually. The effort made Audi sponsor of real-time race coverage on SkyGrid, an app that aggregates real-time news for the Apple tablet. The app also allowed for streaming video of the three Audi vehicles involved in the race!

Check out the article: http://leep.it/NU

Want to chat about the race? Or about the iPad? Drop me an email: asif[at]textopoly[dot]com. Until next time…Mr. Incredible awaaaayyyyy!

You say iPad… I say iRAD!

Kang — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:36:51 +0000

Last month Naushad had a little surprise for the office. There sitting on a desk was the newest toy from Apple, a brand new iPad. Sure I had my doubts and pompous eye rolls as Naushad handed the surprisingly thin and sleek device to me. Really what’s an iPad got to offer? Isn’t just an over-sized iTouch with a lame name? But I got to tell you that I was converted with my very first touch. The amazing quality of the display, the intuitive user interface, and available applications all worked together to create a excellent user experience. I might even go as far as to say that this really is the device the print publications have been waiting for!

When reading the news or comics (Yes! The geek in me couldn’t resist) the iPad allows you to flip through pages and access content with a mere touch. It brings the experience of eating breakfast while thumbing through the morning paper. It’s crazy to think that the iPad hit a million sold in 28 days. That’s half the time the iPhone hit that number of sales! (http://leep.it/nV)

Will the deeper capability of the consumer engagement, I think luxury brands should be looking to develop applications on this platform. Imagine a luxury car iPad app where you can enter in the car and open compartments; crack the hood open and check out the engine? Sound ambitious? Well the technical capability is here, now we need creativity to power it.

Apple me this. . .

Naushad — Mon, 10 May 2010 00:18:39 +0000

Will it? Won’t it? What will AT&T do about it? It’s Spring time and the buzz of what Apple will do, and who it will do it to is in the air. The WSJ could only point to ‘the people who were briefed’ when they delivered their article on a much anticipated CDMA version of the iPhone, slated to be produced by Pegatron Technology Corp, a Taiwanese company who, of course, declined to comment. A CDMN handset would certainly help Verizion boost up the number of smartphone subscribers (about 23% of all smart-phone users) in comparison to AT&T which is holds about 43% of the total smartphone market.

If indeed the exclusive between AT&T and Apple is to fade, it will be a monumental task for AT&T to find something to take its place. In the Q4 of 2009 AT&T activated 3.1 million iPhones. Compare this to 2.7 million phones they activated that weren’t iPhones! Even though AT&T pays a reported $600 to Steve for each iPhone and despite AT&T towers being clogged worse than a restroom at Denny’s the attraction of having that shiny gaget in your showroom floor is mighty tempting. (Besides, let Sprint subscribers have a crack at it. They have the ‘now’ network that has no more than 12 people on it. Of course it’s going to be the fastest 4G network!)

If VZN and Apple come to terms, will VZN require iPhones to play within the confines of their restricted playground? Or will Apple be allowed to roam free. . .in their own restricted playground? Will AT&T freak out if they lose the exclusive which they’ve milked since 2007? Will they look to the iPad exclusive and milk data plans instead? So many questions. . .is there an app for that?

New iPhone prototype left at bar! (Not kidding people!)

Naushad — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:04:06 +0000

It is reported that Apple has indeed lost a prototype next generation iPhone! It was found and then taken apart to reveal the new feature set. Check out the link: http://leep.it/iJ

Somebody going to get a hurt real bad!

Apple… Do you feel threatened on your monopoly?

Kang — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:38:42 +0000

Ok… Before anyone hoots and hollers about how awesome Apple is… I want to set the record straight that I am a Mac owner! So please, no comments that Justin Long rules.

The news that Apple sued HTC is no big surprise. After all, HTC is a huge player in manufacturing high end android-based mobile devices. The suit claims infringement of 20 patents related to the iPhone’s user interface, underlying architecture, and hardware. Is it possible that this suit is a subtle jab to the ribs to Google? HTC and Google have been in kahoots for some time, launching the G1, the myTouch, and the Nexus. These phones have proved to be a good competition against the iPhone, and surprisingly the lawsuit isn’t over the iPhone’s multi-touch screen.

So is this a taste of things to come? Is the natural progression of mobile phone innovation patented? Where would Coke be without it’s Pepsi? Dr. Pepper with Mr. Pibb? (Or in my case “Dr. Smooth”. It’s the generic version sold at my grocery store.) Doesn’t a being in competitive marketplace fuel new ideas and concepts to make consumer products better? In my opinion, if Apple is able to sue every phone that has elements similar to the iPhone then the mobile innovation has had it’s reins pulled!

$21 million for traditional and $0 for mobile

Naushad — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:40:30 +0000

Is this really the ‘year of mobile’ when you have a premiere brand like Kaplan set to spend over $21 million dollars this first quarter on Online, Print and TV – yet $0 on mobile? Did Kaplan think that Google and Apple dropped over 1 Billion dollars in one week in mobile because they had an untimely brain-freeze?

The full story was posted on Media Post last week (http://leep.it/cR). I won’t rant on and on about this. However, it is amazing that neither mobile nor social media made it into the final plans of how to spend $21 million dollars. They could have allocated less than 0.01% of that and created some truly engaging interactions with mobile to compliment their TV,print and online elements. Even if they didn’t want to expend the effort in creating original interactive mobile engagements, or placing ads on the mobile internet, or creating mobile landing pages where their target users (full-time workers) could get more information while they eat there $5 subway footlong, they could have at least added text call to actions on print & TV ads to get some measurement of the media spend!

If you’re interested in knowing how we would have used SMS/text, mobile ads, a mobile site and social media for Kaplan give me a holla’, we’ll chat over a footlong & a diet coke. Naushad out.

HTC, My Hero

Asif — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:22:59 +0000

About 7 months ago I made the jump from my Blackberry to the brand new Apple iPhone 3GS; and about 6 months and 2 weeks ago I jumped to the Sprint HTC Hero, and I couldn’t be happier. Now, before you jump to comment on how much the iPhone is better and that I have no idea what I’m talking about, blah blah blah, just hear me out…ready? Are you calm?

So, for my needs, I wanted 3 basic functionalities from my mobile device; 1) make a phone call without interrupted service, or dropped calls, 2) allow me to retrieve my email, make phone calls and let me send text messages for at least 3 hours without the phone dying, and 3) let me upload my music/movies/pictures from different sources without restriction to just one particular machine! During my first week of iPhone 3GS integration, I could not make a phone call without a dropped call, I had a flat tire at 9am and used the phone to send emails, and conduct office work while I waited for the tow truck, and by 11:30am I had less than 20% battery life! To make matters more complicated, I couldn’t transfer music or movies from my brother’s Apple before my flight, and was annoyed by the lady next to me for 3 hours!

I know that the iPhone is very sexy, and they have millions of apps, but really I don’t need that many apps. Just give me Bank of America mobile, ESPN mobile, Facebook, and Sprint Navigation or Google Maps, and I’m all good. All I need is a phone that can take care of the essential parts of my life when I’m away from the office or home. Now, you’re probably wondering why I moved my entire carrier too… well, AT&T’s customer service was the reason why I moved. I won’t get into much detail because then this blog would be more like a novel, but call me, we’ll do lunch and I’ll tell you what happened.

One last thing, I do own a Mac, I would never purchase anything else when it comes to computers and music devices, however, when it comes to mobile, until Apple can get on a carrier that can let me make phone calls, and until they make a phone that can last through an episode of I Love Lucy, I’m sticking to my HTC Hero because it really did save me.