May 30, 2010

Is Apple’s iPod Touch the New Enemy of Sony?

Filed under: Mobile Insights — Tags: , , — Steve @ 10:35 pm

Apple is notoriously stingy with iPod touch sales figures, but Flurry Analytics published numbers earlier this year suggesting the download volume at Apple’s App Store, during the Christmas period, was 172% greater for the iPod touch was than it was for the iPhone.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata apparently told company executives that Apple is its “enemy of the future.”

Apple’s encroachment into the handheld gaming market has been substantial. The iPhone and iPod touch made up 19 percent of portable game revenue in all of 2009 compared to five percent the year earlier.

When the iPod touch was introduced, most of us saw the ‘touch’ as a emasculated iPhone. The media generally ignored it.

Now we see it as a stand-alone device with unique qualities. It’s a great handheld game player, a truly portable computer, one that slides into a pocket or purse. Plays virtually every of the 200,000 apps now available through the App Store. And it’s free of cell carrier contracts. You can even buy it at Costco.

Here is another view of the ‘touch’: think of it as a compact iPad.

It has the same operating system, plays the same apps, costs a whole bunch less and again there is no monthly contract. Granted there is less real estate, but that’s an advantage, not a disadvantage.

iPad critics wonder how people are going to lug this about. It doesn’t fit in a pocket. It’s too big, the claim. Others say the iPad is too heavy. Your arm gets tired when reading a book.

Okay, how about something smaller, something less expensive, something that’s light and portable?

Here is our take on this chameleon. Apple will introduce a slighter smaller iPad … or a slightly larger iPod touch. It’s ll about perspective. Remember all those early reports about a seven inch touchscreen? Maybe it’s another addition to the iPad ‘touch’ family.

May 28, 2010

Tim McGuinness, VP of Global Trade Expositions – International Council of Shopping Centers

Filed under: Testimonials — Steve @ 1:41 pm

Mobile Fringe created an app for our Fusion Conference this past February in Chicago that provided our attendees with a tremendous amount of pertinent information in a streamlined and user-friendly manner, enhancing their on-site experience. We were so pleased with the success of this app that we asked Mobile Fringe to create an app for RECon, our largest conference.

May 23, 2010

RECon, (The Global Retail Real Estate Convention). There’s an App for That, and it was Developed by Mobile Fringe

Filed under: News @ Mobile Fringe — Tags: , , , — Steve @ 12:14 pm

Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) May 23, 2010 – It’s big. It’s important. It’s why RECon has chosen a purposely-built, mobile marketing app developed by Toronto-based Mobile Fringe.

An estimated 30,000 will attend RECon 2010, the global retail real estate convention, hosted by the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) May 23-25 in Las Vegas. Many of those attending, represent the world’s leading developers, retailers, brokers, financial institutions, product suppliers, service companies and municipalities.

“Mobile Fringe created an app for our Fusion Conference this past February in Chicago that provided our attendees with a tremendous amount of pertinent information in a streamlined and user-friendly manner, enhancing their on-site experience,” said Tim McGuinness, staff vice president of global trade expositions for ICSC. “We were so pleased with the success of this app that we asked Mobile Fringe to create an app for RECon, our largest conference,” added McGuinness.

Sorge Sorge, CEO Mobile Fringe added, “The ICSC, RECON mobile app will work on all smartphones, has the complete conference agenda, an exhibit floor map and details about the hotel.

“It also lists all of the exhibitors and sponsors. Attendees can stay connected with our social media tools – Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.. And, it even has GPS directions to the hotel.”

Go to www.recon.mobilefringe.com/ on your mobile device for the mobile app.

“The real estate industry, specifically property managers and retailers are the core focus for our mobile marketing company,” states Sorge. “We are very familiar with the business and marketing requirements of ICSC members, having worked with them previously. Furthermore, a number of member companies are also clients of Mobile Fringe. Mobile Fringe understands this segment better than any other mobile marketer.”

Last year Mobile Fringe developed the Toronto Eaton Centre mobile marketing app for Cadillac Fairview. The Toronto Eaton Centre, located in downtown Toronto is one of Canada’s most recognized shopping malls. Within the last couple of months Mobile Fringe launched a 2nd retail shopping mall app, this one for Oxford Properties and its prestigious Yorkdale Shopping Centre.

About the International Council of Shopping Centers

Founded in 1957, ICSC is the premier global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its more than 55,000 members in over 90 countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, retailers and brokers, as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world. For more information visit www.icsc.org.

About RECON

RECon, the global retail real estate convention, is the world’s largest gathering of industry professionals. In addition to the 30,000 attendees, the convention will feature over 1,000 exhibitors. The RECon brand has grown and now spans four regions: North America, Asia, Middle East and Latin America, bringing together the global shopping center industry.

About Mobile Fringe

Mobile Fringe is a mobile marketing and development company specializing in iPhone, Blackberry and Android. We will turn your visions into mobile realities and will not only design and develop a state of the art mobile app but will go to great lengths to make our clients ride this incredible mobile wave. Mobile Fringe’s proprietary mobile marketing platforms allow its clients a fast time to market, mobile content management and incredible value.

If your company does not have a mobile marketing strategy, now is time to contact Mobile Fringe and join the revolution.

May 22, 2010

Yorkdale iPhone and Blackberry Apps

Filed under: Present, Products — Tags: , , — Steve @ 5:40 am
Download today and experience the Yorkdale Shopping Centre iPhone app in the palm of your hand.

For Blackberry – click here

Yorkdale iPhone App – Watch the Video and See it Live.

Mobile Fringe is proud to be Yorkdale’s partner in launching their iPhone app and Blackberry Apps. Discover more than 240 exciting stores and services including The Bay, Holt Renfrew, Apple Store, H&M, Lululemon, Mango, Sephora and Zara. We invite you to experience the excitement of Yorkdale and the extraordinary mix of fine apparel, accessories, great gifts, home décor, theatres and much more using the Yorkdale iPhone App.

Learn More about Mobile Fringe’s Shopping Center Platform that gives your shopping center, a direct marketing channel to the mobile user with dynamic promotions, a brilliant interactive map and much more.

Yorkdale Shopping Centre Mobile App Features

The Yorkdale Shopping Centre iPhone App has a load of great features right from the start.

- Check out the latest promotions.
- Feel lucky? Enter the Content.
- Treat yourself with valet parking.
- Find a parking space fast.
- Mall hours a touch away.
Each detailed store listing has a picture of their store front, and easy one touch navigation to find them on the mall map, look up their store promotion and call them directly.
Going to hit the mall? Find the stores you want to visit easily with our interactive map. Make sure you stop by all your favourite stores that are having a promotion.

May 17, 2010

Claire Santamaria, Marketing Director – Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Filed under: Testimonials — Tags: , — Steve @ 10:27 pm

Collaborating with Mobile Fringe on the development of our mobile iPhone/iTunes and Blackberry app, which is Canada’s first shopping centre app for Blackberry, has been a great experience. Their professionalism and dedication has resulted a fantastic end result on time and on budget.

Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) Relies Upon Mobile Marketing App Developed by Toronto-Based Mobile Fringe

Filed under: News @ Mobile Fringe — Tags: , — Steve @ 10:19 pm

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire)  – May 17, 2010 – Discovery 2010, the innovation showcase hosted by Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE) is scheduled for May 17th and 18th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Those attending this sprawling event will find it much easier to budget their time and maneuver their way through the 2-day show, thanks to an innovative mobile software application developed by Mobile Fringe. The app will be available for both the iPhone and Blackberry platform.

Discovery 2010 focuses on emerging trends in advanced health, clean technology, digital media, manufacturing and the green economy.

This is the third software application specifically developed by Mobile Fringe for North American conventions. The previous apps were:

  1. Online Revealed Conference, Montreal: top hospitality professionals.
  2. ICSC Fusion Convention, Chicago: International Council of Shopping Centers.

“Our conference mobile applications are a huge benefit for those attending the conference. Accessing key information in the palm of your hand and staying in touch to others at the conference is important,” states Steve Sorge, CEO of Mobile Fringe.

“The Mobile Fringe application merges well with the entire theme of Discovery. It’s a new and emerging technology and of course because it’s paperless it’s also a totally green solution. For Mobile Fringe, it is an excellent example of our capability.”

The OCE iPhone and Blackberry apps incorporate such invaluable tools as:

  • Conference agenda
  • Exhibit floor map
  • Details about the convention centre
  • GPS directions to the hotel
  • Transportation information
  • Guides to local restaurants and shopping malls
  • Social media tools – Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin

Sorge indicated Mobile Fringe has yet another convention app, in the works. This latest app has been commissioned by a major Las Vegas convention, scheduled for late May. More details will be revealed in a couple weeks, according to Sorge.

The keynote speaker for Discovery 2010 the OCE convention will be Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and a huge tech enthusiast.

“I’m confident that the Discovery participants and even some of the keynote speakers will find this application really exciting and of course helpful as they make their way around the show floor,” Sorge said.

About Mobile Fringe

Mobile Fringe is a mobile marketing and development company specializing in iPhone, Blackberry and Android.

We will turn your visions into mobile realities and will not only design and develop a state of the art mobile app but will go to great lengths to make our clients ride this incredible mobile wave.

Mobile Fringe’s proprietary mobile marketing platforms allow its clients a fast time to market, mobile content management and incredible value. (www.mobilefringe.com)

About OCE

The Ontario Centres of Excellence is the pre-eminent research-to-commercialization vehicle in Ontario.

We take ideas to income. Created in response to Ontario’s most critical competitive challenges, we facilitate economic growth through support for industrially relevant R&D, the opening of new market opportunities and the commercialization of leading edge discovery. We build strong industry and academic relationships. And, we stimulate knowledge transfer through the development of bright minds, moving their skills to the market.

The Schizophrenic iPad

Filed under: Mobile Insights — Tags: , , — Steve @ 10:03 am

The schizophrenic iPad

Are you an extra large iPod touch? Yes I am.

But aren’t you supposed to be a whole new platform? Yes I am.

Then what are you? I am both.

Canadians, like the rest of the world have been relegated to 2nd class citizen status.

To paraphrase, Seinfeld: No iPads for you.

Impatient to get our hands on the iPad, we drove to Buffalo during the 3rd week of April and bought four of the 32G iPads. There were no lineups, but the Buffalo store only had five of the Wi-Fi versions left. The 3G versions had yet to be introduced.

Initial impressions?

Here’s what our number one tester had to say:

A lot has been written about the iPad, with much of the commentary touching upon the same points:

  • It is heavier than you would expect.
  • It’s fast, way faster than a laptop when launching apps and surfing the Net.
  • The super-sized screen attracts a lot of fingerprints and smudges.
  • There is an emotional attachment, a bonding that occurs between the device and the user.
  • The screen is really bright.
  • The extra real estate makes a huge difference.

Typical of early Apple launches, it’s missing a number of major features.

Keynote files import but with omissions and problems. Apple has posted a advisory on best practices.

There are have been early complaints about iPad apps are dramatically scaling back or even blocking their video when on the 3G-ready iPad.

A lawyer claims the iPad helped him successfully win a $300,000 lawsuit. Schools are discovering new uses. And those in healthcare are also discovering ways to implement the iPad.

Here are key findings:

  • As a show and tell device this has it all
  • The simplicity of it is the attraction
  • easier to read articles, blogs and websites than iPhone
  • it really does belong in a category of its’ own
  • iPad apps that make use of new screen space can make people more productive
  • taking email and notes on the device just feels right
  • watching video on sites like youtube and vimeo even more enjoyable
  • takes mobile computing to another level where a laptop can not.
  • has the possibility of taking the web from 2.0 to 3.0
  • easy for anyone to use
  • opens up possibility for different usage
    - an architect at a construction site viewing blueprints
    - mechanics using it for engine diagrams and diagnostic tests
    - students carrying this one device, rather than heavy text books
    - doctors being able to grab patient data at any time any place within a hospital
    - etc…
  • changes the idea of the way we use and view the internet

May 10, 2010

Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Mobile Apps for Canada

Filed under: Mobile Insights — Tags: , — Steve @ 11:26 pm

Out of Sight, Out of Mind, Mobile Apps for Canada

There are considerably more apps listed in the US Apple Store than there are in the Canadian version.

The gap is so significant, a pseudo-black market is emerging where Canadians are finding loop holes in Apple’s registration system in order to download apps currently unavailable north of the border. Even the Globe & Mail recently ran an article in its business section provided instructions on buying a pay-as-you-go MasterCard at a Canadian national pharmacy chain, then using a fake US address to gain access to the US Apple Store.

Why is that? Why are US software developers and corporations ignoring the Canadian market? Is it a simple matter of ‘out of sight, out of mind’? Or is it related to copyright, trade issues or language and cultural issues.

Whatever the reason, many developers and corporations are missing out on an important market. Canada’s population, GPD and other economic measurements, positions the Canadian market on a par with California. Typically Canada is 10% of the US regardless of population, GDP, car sales etc.

That’s a big market, too big to ignore.

In fact, the Canadian mobile market appears to be maturing at a slower rate than in the US. Mobile marketing tools such as SMS messaging, coupons and bar code scanning all appear to be months, if not years  behind the US adoption rate.

Is that bad?

We don’t think so. In fact it suggests that the smart marketer ought to exploit these differences between the US market and the Canadian scene.

Now is the time to step forward and reap the rewards in the relatively untapped Canadian market. And Mobile Fringe is your doorway to the Great White North.

Come on in, eh.

May 5, 2010

Rita Malek, Global Tradeshow Sales Manager – International Council of Shopping Centers

Filed under: Testimonials — Steve @ 11:19 pm

In the 53 year history of ICSC, we have never had a mobile application.  The Mobile Fringe team walked us through the basics of how a mobile marketing app could help make our conferences more efficient by providing our attendees with all the information they need while on-site in the palm of their hand.

The app that Mobile Fringe created for our Fusion Conference provided our attendees with a tremendous amount of pertinent information in a streamlined and user-friendly manner, enhancing their on-site experience.  The app truly exceeded our expectations and the entire Mobile Fringe team was a pleasure to work with.

In fact, we were so pleased with the results from our Fusion Conference that we decided to ask Mobile Fringe to create another app for our largest conference, RECon, in Las Vegas.

May 4, 2010

Mass Media Going Mobile

Filed under: Mobile Insights — Tags: , — Steve @ 12:22 pm

Cellphones.org ran a great story in April 2010, entitled ‘The 7 Forms of Mass Media’. The report established reference points for various forms of media over the past 500 years.

There is no question, pace of technology has, and continues to be exponential.

Perhaps more important is the realization that each new technology does not erase older forms of media, but simply creates an environment of accommodation. Each medium shuffles awkwardly until all it finds a comfortable spot in the pecking order.

Currently we are witnessing print, specifically newspapers and books,  frantically trying to establish a new business model for themselves. Mobile, the newest member of this family is creating a lot noise and discomfort for the older siblings.

First:

The print medium has been around since the 1500’s. Gutenberg is given credit for the 1st printing press in 1450.

Second:

Recordings of music using wax cylinders came into being around 1880, thanks to Thomas Edison.

Third:

Motion pictures, or film, impacted our society in the early 1900’s. A Trip to the Moon and The Great Train Robbery hit the silver screen in the 1903.

Fourth:

Radio came into our lives around 1920.

Fifth:

Television became a social phenomenon in 1950.

Sixth:

The Internet arrived in 1990.

Seventh:

In 2000, the world welcomed the mobile cell phone – Look out world.