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Yahoo sunsets BlackBerry app, dumps App Search tool

Date: Monday, 04 Mar 2013 13:48

Yahoo is streamlining its product lineup, eliminating a series of mobile and Web properties including its news and messaging app for BlackBerry.

Author: "Jason Ankeny" Tags: "Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Marissa Mayer,..."

Report: Opera workforce shrinks 10% with migration to WebKit

Date: Tuesday, 19 Feb 2013 12:55

More than 90 Opera Software employees have exited the browser maker's ranks as it shifts from its own Presto rendering engine to WebKit, a move to increase its competitiveness on Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS.

Digi.no first reported on the staff changes, which have trimmed the Opera workforce from 931 full-time employees to 840, a reduction of about 10 percent. Software developers account for about half of all staffers who left the company, with the remainder coming from segments including marketing and sales. Opera said that the job losses were voluntary redundancies rather than involuntary layoffs, with all who resigned offered support and severance packages.

Last week, Opera announced it will make a "gradual transition" to WebKit in order "to provide a leading browser on Android and iOS." Opera additionally will support V8 as its JavaScript engine and will contribute to the open-source Chromium framework project. Opera Vice President of Communications Nils Broström told Ars Technica that embracing WebKit means the firm can "put our clever people on developing end user benefits and innovations rather than developing and maintaining our own core." Opera will preview its first WebKit-powered Android browser later this month at the Mobile World Congress 2013 event.

More than 300 million consumers worldwide now use Opera's browsers each month across all platforms. Last week, the company acquired rival mobile browser maker Skyfire Labs in a cash and stock deal that could be worth as much as $155 million. Skyfire for iPhone allows consumers to run Adobe Flash-based content, working around Apple's restrictions on the Flash runtime by translating video content into the HTML5 Web standard.

Skyfire also offers Rocket Optimizer, a cloud-based solution that automatically reduces the size of video and multimedia content to fit the available bandwidth, promising mobile operators a 60 percent boost in network capacity, as well as Skyfire Horizon, a mobile browser extension and toolbar platform enabling carriers to integrate recommendations, promotions and advertising.

For more:
- read this Ars Technica article
- read this Next Web article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Android, Chutes & Ladders, iOS, Mobile W..."

Opera acquires mobile browser rival Skyfire Labs for up to $155M

Date: Friday, 15 Feb 2013 13:03

Opera Software has acquired rival mobile browser maker Skyfire Labs in a cash and stock deal that could be worth as much as $155 million. The deal includes an upfront consideration of $50 million, bolstered by performance-based payments over the next three years.

Skyfire is best known for its eponymous browser, available across Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS and Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android platforms. Skyfire for iPhone allows consumers to run Adobe Flash-based content, working around Apple's restrictions on the Flash runtime by translating video content into the HTML5 Web standard.

Skyfire also offers Rocket Optimizer, a cloud-based solution that automatically reduces the size of video and multimedia content to fit the available bandwidth, promising mobile operators a 60 percent boost in network capacity. Its product portfolio additionally includes Skyfire Horizon, a mobile browser extension and toolbar platform enabling carriers to integrate recommendations, promotions and advertising.

Skyfire's products fit comfortably within Opera's own portfolio: Its signature Opera Mini mobile browser compresses up to 90 percent of data to improve speed and reduce costs, and its Mediaworks advertising unit--which includes previous acquisition AdMarvel, Mobile Theory and 4th Screen Advertising--will complement Skyfire Horizon to offer operators a complete turnkey solution including ad optimization, ad sales and analytics.

The Opera/Skyfire agreement is expected to close before March 15. Skyfire will continue operating independently as a wholly owned Opera subsidiary and will continue to develop and support the Skyfire browser. Skyfire CEO Jeff Glueck will retain his current title and assume the role of executive vice president of Opera's operator business.

More than 300 million consumers worldwide now use Opera's browsers each month across all platforms. The company also touts relationships with more than 100 carriers worldwide. Earlier this week, Opera confirmed it will scrap its Presto rendering engine in favor of WebKit, a move to increase its competitiveness on Android and iOS. It will preview its first WebKit-powered Android browser later this month at the Mobile World Congress 2013 event.

For more:
- read this release

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Financial News and Funding, Mobile Adver..."

Opera begins shift to WebKit engine as browser users top 300M

Date: Wednesday, 13 Feb 2013 14:59

Opera Software, the company behind the popular mobile browser of the same name, confirmed it will scrap its Presto rendering engine in favor of WebKit, a move to increase its competitiveness on Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android and Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS.

Last month, Pocket-lint published a leaked internal Opera video indicating the firm's forthcoming ICE browser for iOS will run on the WebKit engine, which also powers Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome browsers. Opera formally announced the change Wednesday, stating it will make a "gradual transition" to WebKit in order "to provide a leading browser on Android and iOS." Opera additionally will support V8 as its JavaScript engine and will contribute to the open-source Chromium framework project.

"The WebKit engine is already very good, and we aim to take part in making it even better. It supports the standards we care about, and it has the performance we need," said Opera Software CTO Håkon Wium Lie. "It makes more sense to have our experts working with the open source communities to further improve WebKit and Chromium, rather than developing our own rendering engine further. Opera will contribute to the WebKit and Chromium projects, and we have already submitted our first set of patches: to improve multi-column layout."

Opera plans to embrace WebKit for most of its browsers for smartphones and computers. It will preview its first WebKit-powered Android browser later this month at the Mobile World Congress 2013 event.

In related news, Opera announced that 300 million users access its browsers each month across all platforms. More than 200 million consumers access its signature Opera Mini mobile browser, which compresses up to 90 percent of data to improve speed and reduce costs; the firm also offers the full-featured Opera Mobile.

For more:
- read this release
- read this Opera Developer News blog post
- read this TechCrunch article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Android, Chrome, iOS, Metrics, Mobile We..."

Analyst: Google pays Apple $1B a year to remain iOS search default

Date: Monday, 11 Feb 2013 14:56

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) pays Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) roughly $1 billion per year to remain the default search option on devices like the iPhone and iPad, according to analyst estimates.

A new report from Morgan Stanley analyst Scott Devitt states that Google pays Apple about $250 million every quarter to remain its iOS search partner, chalking up the $1 billion annual charge to traffic acquisition costs. Google's mobile business hinges on iOS traffic: Based on figures provided in its patent and copyright infringement battle with Oracle as well as remarks from Google CEO Larry Page, insiders believe iOS generates about 80 percent of Google's mobile advertising revenues.

Although some analysts maintain Google and Apple agreed to a mobile search revenue sharing deal, Devitt believes Google pays Apple a per-device fee, simplifying accounting and giving Apple upfront payments. A per-device fee also would hedge against users who search via the Web as opposed to the default iOS search box. As iOS device penetration grows, Google's traffic acquisition costs should continue to balloon in the years to come, although Devitt anticipates accelerating profits from other Google services like YouTube will offset the increase.

Apple reported profits of $13.1 billion during the most recent quarter: While the iOS search deal is a relative drop in the bucket, it is money generated with almost no effort from Apple staffers. Google reported fourth-quarter profits of $2.89 billion.

The Google/Apple search partnership is expected to continue despite growing animosity between the two firms. Last year, Apple dumped Google Maps from iOS in favor of its own Apple Maps platform, also eliminating native support for YouTube. Google has since released standalone Google Maps and YouTube apps available for download from Apple's App Store.

Devitt estimates that Google controls 95 percent of the worldwide mobile search market. He adds that in addition to the Apple agreement, Google pays $300 million per year to Mozilla to remain the default search provider for its Firefox browser and its forthcoming Firefox OS mobile operating system.

For more:
- read this Business Insider article
- read this Apple Insider article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Apple, Financial News and Funding, Googl..."

Apple, Samsung dislodge Nokia to lead worldwide mobile Web usage

Date: Monday, 04 Feb 2013 16:02

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) now leads all mobile device vendors on global Internet usage, displacing Nokia (NYSE:NOK) for the first time ever in January, according to new research issued by StatCounter.

Although Apple's share of worldwide mobile Web usage slipped from 28.67 percent in January 2012 to 25.86 percent last month, Nokia suffered a far greater year-over-year decline, plummeting from 37.67 percent to 22.15 percent--a fall of 15.52 percentage points. Android OEM Samsung Electronics also eclipsed Nokia over the last 12 months, increasing its Internet usage share from 14.84 percent in January 2012 to 22.69 percent.

"It's good and bad news for Apple," said StatCounter CEO Aodhan Cullen. "Apple has been handed the number one spot despite its falling usage share. A decline in Nokia usage from January 2012 to January 2013 means the Finnish company ceded the top spot to Apple. Samsung, in contrast to Apple, has seen an increase in its usage share since January 2012."

Looking at the U.S. market, Apple far outpaces the competition, dominating about 53 percent of mobile Web usage nationwide, down from 60 percent a year ago. Samsung follows a distant second at 14 percent, ahead of HTC at 7 percent; both manufacturers made narrow gains over the previous year.

StatCounter data is based on over 15 billion page views per month across a network of more than 3 million websites. The firm notes that Apple's mobile statistics include the iPhone and iPod touch but not the iPad tablet.

For more:
- read this release

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Apple, HTC, Metrics, Mobile Web, Mobile ..."

Google opens Chrome for Android Beta channel

Date: Friday, 11 Jan 2013 12:39

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is introducing a Chrome Beta channel optimized for Android smartphones and tablets, offering users early access to mobile browser updates and enhancements prior to their official public release.

Modeled after Google's existing Beta channels for Chrome for Mac, Windows, Linux and Chrome OS, the Android channel enables consumers to test drive new features, troubleshoot bugs and provide feedback on their user experience. "Just like our other Beta versions, the new features may be a little rough around the edges, but we'll be pushing periodic updates so you can test out our latest work as soon as it's ready," said Chrome Technical Program Manager Jason Kersey. "Even better, you can install the Beta alongside your current version of Chrome for Android."

According to Kersey, the latest Chrome for Android Beta build improves the browser's Octane performance benchmark by an average of 25 percent to 30 percent. The update also includes HTML5 features for developers, including CSS Filters.

Google introduced Chrome for Android Beta in February 2012. Available exclusively for tablets and handsets running Android 4.0 and higher, the browser touts many of the same features as its desktop counterpart, and it enables users to port bookmarks and saved tabs from the desktop to the mobile platform. Chrome for Android also supports remote debugging via Chrome Developer Tools, allowing developers to debug profile Web pages and Web apps via mobile.

For more:
- read this Google Chrome Blog entry

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Android, Chrome, Google, Mobile Applicat..."

Google removes Maps redirect on Windows Phone

Date: Thursday, 10 Jan 2013 12:43

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) has made good on its promise to eliminate a redirect preventing Windows Phone device owners from accessing the Google Maps website via Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Internet Explorer browser.

Late last week, Gizmodo reported that Google was blocking Windows Phone users from using Maps on IE, instead sending them to its Google.com homepage. Google quietly disabled the redirect Wednesday, and Windows Phone users may now once again access Google Maps in IE per usual.

Google initially chalked up the Maps redirect to issues with Internet Explorer: "The mobile Web version of Google Maps is optimized for WebKit browsers such as Chrome and Safari," a Google spokesperson said. "However, since Internet Explorer is not a WebKit browser, Windows Phone devices are not able to access Google Maps for the mobile Web." Microsoft cried foul, noting that Google Maps runs seamlessly on Internet Explorer 10 for the desktop. Other observers pointed out that the mobile version of Mozilla's Firefox browser also does not run WebKit but is nevertheless capable of rendering Google Maps with no redirect in place.

Google quickly reversed course. "We periodically test Google Maps compatibility with mobile browsers to make sure we deliver the best experience for those users," a spokesperson said. "In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience, and that's why there is no redirect for those users. Recent improvements to IE mobile and Google Maps now deliver a better experience."

The Google Maps redirect flap is the latest in a series of mobile skirmishes pitting Microsoft against Google. Late last year, Google announced plans to halt consumer support for the Exchange ActiveSync protocol, forcing Windows Phone device owners to sync their personal Gmail contacts and calendar data via the IMAP protocol. Last week, a Microsoft legal representative alleged Google is deliberately stifling Microsoft's efforts to build a full-featured YouTube video application optimized for Windows Phone by refusing to license the necessary coding information.

For more:
- read this Verge article
- read this CNet article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Google, google maps, Location-Based Serv..."

Mozilla vows private browsing coming to Firefox for Android

Date: Wednesday, 09 Jan 2013 15:16

Mozilla said its 2013 roadmap includes a series of updates and enhancements targeting its Firefox for Android mobile browser, highlighted by private Web browsing.

Already available on Firefox for the desktop, the private browsing option enables users to surf the Internet without saving any data on which sites and pages they visit. "Lots of you have requested private browsing on your Android phone, and we're working to deliver," Mozilla said.

Mozilla also is working to offer Android users expanded customization options, including themes--i.e., customizable skins enabling users to personalize the look and feel of the browser environment. "The team is also working hard on a way to give you the ability to control the Firefox for Android start page content," Mozilla added. Also on tap: Support for more Android devices and languages.

Mozilla said all of the promised Firefox for Android improvements will arrive in the coming months.

Mozilla issued its most recent Firefox for Android overhaul in late November, adding support for smartphones incorporating ARMv6 processors. Although previous iterations of Firefox supported phones running Android versions 2.2 and higher, compatibility was limited to devices equipped with ARMv7 processors. According to Mozilla, roughly half of the 500 million Android devices activated worldwide run on ARMv6 architecture--adding support for ARMv6 extends Firefox to handsets including HTC's Status and ChaCha, Samsung's Galaxy Ace, Motorola Mobility's Fire XT and LG's Optimus Q.

Firefox for Android is available as a free download from the Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Play storefront. Alongside support for Android 2.2 or higher, compatible devices require at least an 800MHz processor and 512MB of RAM.

For more:
- read this Mozilla blog entry

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Android, Firefox, Mobile Web, Mozilla"

Google pledges to dump Maps redirect on Windows Phone

Date: Monday, 07 Jan 2013 12:56

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) has vowed to eliminate a redirect preventing Windows Phone device owners from accessing the Google Maps website via Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Internet Explorer browser.

Late last week, Gizmodo reported that Google was blocking Windows Phone users from using Maps on IE, instead sending them directly to its search homepage. "The mobile Web version of Google Maps is optimized for WebKit browsers such as Chrome and Safari," a Google spokesperson said. "However, since Internet Explorer is not a WebKit browser, Windows Phone devices are not able to access Google Maps for the mobile web."

Microsoft cried foul, noting that Google Maps runs seamlessly on Internet Explorer 10 for the desktop. "Internet Explorer in Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 use the same rendering engine," a Microsoft spokesperson said. Other observers noted that the mobile version of Mozilla's Firefox browser also does not run WebKit but is nevertheless capable of rendering Google Maps, with no redirect in place.

Over the weekend, Google reversed course. "We periodically test Google Maps compatibility with mobile browsers to make sure we deliver the best experience for those users," a spokesperson said. "In our last test, IE mobile still did not offer a good maps experience with no ability to pan or zoom and perform basic map functionality. As a result, we chose to continue to redirect IE mobile users to Google.com where they could at least make local searches. The Firefox mobile browser did offer a somewhat better user experience, and that's why there is no redirect for those users.

"Recent improvements to IE mobile and Google Maps now deliver a better experience, and we are currently working to remove the redirect. We will continue to test Google Maps compatibility with other mobile browsers to ensure the best possible experience for users."

The Windows Phone maps flap is the latest in a series of mobile skirmishes pitting Microsoft against Google. Late last year, Google announced plans to halt consumer support for the Exchange ActiveSync protocol, forcing Windows Phone device owners to sync their personal Gmail contacts and calendar data via the IMAP protocol. Last week, a Microsoft legal representative alleged Google is deliberately stifling Microsoft's efforts to build a full-featured YouTube video application optimized for Windows Phone by refusing to license the necessary coding information.

For more:
- read this Next Web article
- read this Gizmodo article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Google, google maps, Location-Based Serv..."

Verizon Selects uses subscribers' location, usage data for opt-in ad program

Date: Wednesday, 05 Dec 2012 13:37

Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) introduced Verizon Selects, a new program using location, Web browsing and mobile application usage data to serve targeted promotions to opt-in subscribers.

Launching in conjunction with Verizon's Precision Market Insights effort, which collects information on millions of subscribers to help advertisers identify desired demographics, Verizon Selects analyzes mobile data activity to determine whether a customer fits within the audience profile the operator or its third-party marketer partners are trying to reach. Participating consumers will receive targeted marketing messages or offers via channels including mobile ads, SMS, email, the Web or even postal mail.

"Verizon Wireless will offer customers who opt-in to Verizon Selects a coupon or some other form of reward, most likely from a popular retailer, in exchange for their participation," states Verizon Wireless Vice President of Corporate Communications Torod Neptune. "If a customer chooses not to opt-in, absolutely nothing about their relationship with us changes. Customers are not part of Verizon Selects unless and until they opt-in."

According to Neptune, Verizon Wireless is requiring subscribers to opt into the Selects program because of the type of data being used and because the program enables marketers to reach customers directly. "It's important to remember that Verizon DOES NOT share information that identifies customers personally outside of Verizon," he adds. Consumers can sign up for Verizon Selects or set/change their privacy settings here.

Verizon unveiled Precision Market Insights earlier this year. "As a carrier, our consumers and brands look to us to really help them figure out mobile, Colson Hillier, Verizon's vice president of precision marketing, told FierceMobileContent recently. We realized we had a latent asset. We have information about how customers are using their mobile phones… About a year ago, we worked with customers and advisory boards to devise a privacy policy that the company and customers were comfortable with and allowed us to take insights from the network and use technology to make that information anonymous--so none of it was personally identifiable--and create a series of tools that companies can use to better understand their consumers."

Verizon maintains that Precision Marketing Insights does not run afoul of legal issues because all data is aggregated and does not reveal subscribers' identities. The carrier also said customers can easily opt out. However, some consumer privacy advocates have called the program into question. Hanni Fakhoury, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, recently told CNet that any wireless carrier that discloses information about which URLs a customer visits could violate the Wiretap Act, a federal law aimed at protecting consumer privacy in their communications with other persons. The Wiretap Act states that carriers may not "divulge the contents of any communication."

"I don't see any substantive difference between collecting content from one person and turning it over to someone, and collecting it from multiple people, aggregating that information and then turning the aggregated data over to someone else," Fakhoury said. "In the end, there is still a capturing of content from the user at some point--and that's what the potential [Wiretap Act] problem is."

Verizon responded with a statement reading in part "The Precision program complies with the law and protects the privacy of our customers. The reports available through the program will not disclose the content of specific customer communications because each report will contain aggregate data from a large number of customers to protect privacy. Customers who do not want their data used as part of the program can opt-out at any time."

For more:
- read this Verizon Wireless News Center story

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Location-Based Services, Mobile Applicat..."

Google Chrome for iOS adds Apple Passbook support

Date: Thursday, 29 Nov 2012 15:18

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) updated its Chrome browser for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS, adding support for the Passbook virtual wallet application.

Introduced in September in conjunction with Apple's iOS 6 operating system update, Passbook collects users' movie tickets, transit passes, retailer loyalty cards and coupons, and it boasts support from partners including Starbucks, Target, Fandango and American Airlines. With the release of Chrome for iOS version 23, consumers may save tickets and boarding passes directly from the mobile browser to the Passbook app.

Additional improvements in the revamped Chrome for iOS include the capability to open PDFs inside other apps, text encoding detection to eliminate garbled characters, stability and security enhancements and assorted bug fixes. The browser is available as a free download from Apple's App Store.

Google first extended Chrome to iOS in June 2012. Users can sign in to sync their mobile Web experience with Chrome tabs and bookmarks on the desktop, flip through multiple tabs much the same way they would fan a deck of cards, and search and navigate from the same box. Subsequent updates have enabled iPhone and iPad users to share webpages from social networks Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), Twitter and Google+ in addition to email.

Google also updated Chrome for its own Android mobile OS on Wednesday but did not introduce any new features, limiting the upgrade to stability fixes and performance improvements.

For more:
- read this Next Web article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Apple, Chrome, Google, iOS, M-Commerce, ..."

Nokia launches Slam content sharing service with newest Asha phone

Date: Monday, 26 Nov 2012 13:45

Nokia (NYSE:NOK) unveiled Slam, a multimedia sharing service exclusive to its new Asha 205 and Nokia 206 phones.

Slam is available on the Nokia 206 (pictured) and Asha 205.

Slam enables consumers to share content like photos, videos and music with nearby friends in a matter of clicks--the service works with many Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones (excluding iOS and Windows Phone models), eschews device pairing and does not require the media recipient to own a Slam-enabled handset. Nokia adds that Slam exchanges content from one phone to the other faster than conventional Bluetooth sharing, and it does not consume any Internet data.

Both the Asha 205 and Nokia 206 also leverage the Nokia Xpress Internet platform, which uses cloud technology to reduce data consumption by up to 90 percent, as well as Nokia Nearby, a Web app that identifies local points of interest such as restaurants, shopping and ATMs.

The Asha 205 additionally touts a dedicated Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) button, support for Twitter, Gmail and eBuddy Chat, and the free Nokia Life+ Web app, which includes the manufacturer's Life Skills and Live Healthy services. The Nokia 206 features a 2.4-inch display designed for Web surfing, social networking and mobile gaming, complete with direct homescreen access to Facebook and Twitter.

The new Nokia devices are slated to begin shipping during the current quarter. Each carries an estimated retail price of $62.

For more:
- read this release

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Mobile Content, Mobile Entertainment, Mo..."

Mozilla upgrades Firefox for Android to run on millions more devices

Date: Tuesday, 20 Nov 2012 14:35

Mozilla released an overhauled version of its Firefox for Android that now includes support for smartphones incorporating ARMv6 processors and expands the browser's reach to millions of additional devices.

Although previous iterations of Firefox supported phones running Android versions 2.2 and higher, compatibility was limited to devices equipped with ARMv7 processors. According to Mozilla, roughly half of the 500 million Android devices activated worldwide run on ARMv6 architecture--adding support for ARMv6 extends Firefox to handsets including HTC's Status and ChaCha, Samsung's Galaxy Ace, Motorola Mobility's Fire XT and LG's Optimus Q.

The revamped Firefox for Android also touts integration with TalkBack, an Android screen reader designed to simplify Web access for visually impaired users, as well as Explore by Touch and Gesture Navigation features.

Firefox for Android is available as a free download from the Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Play storefront. In addition to support for Android 2.2 or higher, compatible devices require at least an 800MHz processor and 512MB of RAM.

Mozilla recently said it is developing a browser optimized for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPad that is designed to replace the bestselling tablet's native Safari. Codenamed "Junior," the iPad browser delivers a full-screen browsing experience that eliminates the conventional toolbar in favor control buttons designed to offer a "magazine feel." Mozilla has not revealed a timetable for release.

Mozilla also is building its own Web-based Firefox mobile operating system, previously known under the working name Boot to Gecko. Mozilla and operator partner Telefónica plan to begin selling Boot to Gecko devices in early 2013, accompanied by the Mozilla Marketplace app storefront, which enables developers to create and distribute cross-platform applications optimized for any HTML5-enabled device. Along with Telefónica, Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) also has pledged support for the Firefox OS, citing its potential for powering lower-cost smartphone options for prepaid, postpaid and wholesale customers.

For more:
- read this Mozilla Blog entry

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Android, Firefox, Mobile Web, Mobile Web..."

VC investment in mobile tops $360M in October, led by Braintree, Netbiscuits

Date: Friday, 09 Nov 2012 15:52

Private companies across the worldwide mobile sector raised more than $360 million in venture capital financing during October 2012, M&A advisory firm Rutberg & Company reports.

Ninety-one mobile startups landed venture funding last month, led by 38 firms in the consumer apps segment scoring roughly $106 million, according to Rutberg & Company data supplied to FierceMobileContent via email. Over-the-top messaging services firm textPlus topped the consumer apps sector at $18 million, followed by mobile-first transportation apps makers Silvercar and SideCar at $12 million and $10 million, respectively. (Some companies announced venture investments in October but did not disclose dollar amounts.)

Mobile payments, app infrastructure, over-the-top communications and personalized mobile data billing services were the hottest investment segments in October, Rutberg & Company notes. Digital payments gateway firm Braintree Payments topped all of the month's mobile investments at $35 million, followed by mobile Web development platform Netbiscuits at $27 million. Other notable investments include mobile data billing services provider ItsOn at $15.5 million and app testing startup Perfecto Mobile at $15 million.

Early-stage financing ranged across verticals like m-commerce, health and education. Investors targeted emerging companies like tablet shopping app developer Pickie ($1 million), bicycle rental and sharing app maker Zagster ($1 million) and post-care healthcare app startup Wellframe ($200,000). Rutberg & Company also notes undisclosed investments in Curious Hat and Kidaptive, which produce mobile apps targeting children.

In addition to venture capital firms like Accel Partners, Andreessen Horowitz, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, LightspeedVenture Partners and Sequoia Capital, strategic investors like Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Ventures, Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) Ventures and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) Ventures also made bets in October.

Speaking Thursday to Reuters, Google Ventures Managing Partner Bill Maris said the three-year-old firm plans to increase its coffers from $200 million a year to $300 million, the same level as more established corporate funds like Intel Capital, which invests between $300 million and $500 million in a typical year. "It puts a lot more wood behind the arrow if we need it," he said, adding that Google co-founder and CEO Larry Page may be planning to give Google Ventures even greater investment opportunities in the near future. "Larry has repeatedly asked me: 'What do you think you could do with a billion a year?'" Maris said.

For more:
- read this Reuters article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Financial News and Funding, M-Commerce, ..."

Apple rolls out iOS 6.0.1 update to fix screen, camera flash glitches

Date: Friday, 02 Nov 2012 13:10

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) released its iOS 6.0.1 update for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, addressing a series of bugs that have vexed consumers since the September launch of iOS 6.

Apple releases iOS 6.0.1.

iOS 6.0.1 resolves a bug preventing the new iPhone 5 from installing over-the-air software updates, also bringing fixes for horizontal lines displayed across some iOS device screens and a glitch preventing camera flashes from going off. Other issues targeted by the update include a Passcode Lock bug that sometimes allowed access to Passbook virtual wallet pass details from the device lockscreen and a bug affecting Exchange meetings.

Apple notes that iOS 6.0.1 improves the reliability of iPhone 5 and fifth-generation iPod touch units connected to encrypted WPA2 Wi-Fi networks and resolves issues preventing the iPhone from accessing cellular networks in some instances. The update also consolidates the Use Cellular Data switch for iTunes Match, which allows consumers to access their music library across multiple platforms and devices.

iOS 6.0.1 is available for download through the system's Software Update feature, or via iTunes. In conjunction with its release, Apple is seeding its first iOS 6.1 beta to developers. MacRumors reports the pre-release version tackles issues related to integrating Apple's new Maps service into third-party iOS apps, improvements for handling boarding passes in Passbook and minor changes to the Safari browser.

Apple issued iOS 6 to developers on Sept. 13, delivering the update to consumers six days later. In addition to the aforementioned Maps and Passbook, iOS 6 is highlighted by deep integration with the Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) social networking platform.

For more:
- read this AppleInsider article
- read this MacRumors article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Apple, Apple Maps, iOS, Mobile Platforms..."

Report: Google introducing physical credit card for Wallet users

Date: Friday, 02 Nov 2012 12:10

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is poised to add a physical credit card connected to its Near Field Communications-enabled Wallet platform, enabling consumers to make in-store purchases at retailers that do not support contactless payment options.

Screenshots from a leaked Google Wallet application update obtained by Android Police indicate the card is designed for use anywhere that major credit and debit cards are accepted. Like the Android version of Google Wallet, the physical card acts as a container for multiple credit and debit accounts: "Add your credit and debit cards to the Google Wallet app, then use any of them in stores using just the Google Wallet card," Google explains. "You can leave all the cards you used to carry at home."

The Google Wallet card charges each transaction to the default credit or debit card identified by the consumer during the app setup process--users can bill a transaction to a different card by opening the Wallet app and selecting the alternative account. In addition to completing purchases, users can leverage the card to access and instantly redeem exclusive offers. Google also touts instant transaction notifications, 24/7 fraud monitoring and tools for remotely disabling an Android phone or card at any time.

The pending introduction of the Google Wallet card appears to answer questions raised late last month when Google quietly updated its Wallet website to promise "The next version of Google Wallet [is] coming soon." Signup options ask "What kind of mobile device do you use?" with three options: Android, Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS or "other," the latter represented by an illustration of a smartphone with a physical keypad à la Research In Motion's (NASDAQ:RIMM) BlackBerry devices. Given that the current tap-and-pay version of Google Wallet depends on NFC, a technology not supported by Apple, expanding the service to the iPhone would have required a significant overhaul. However, rolling out an iOS app and an accompanying physical card would enable Google to extend Wallet support to the iPhone while bypassing NFC altogether.

Beyond the physical card, Android Police notes Google Wallet for Android is introducing a new functionality allowing consumers to withdraw funds from their Wallet account and transfer funds to other users. The app is also adding tap-and-pay support for transit fares.

Google Wallet first launched in May 2011 and is now supported across multiple Android smartphones from operator partners Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S), U.S. Cellular and MetroPCS (NASDAQ:PCS). The current iteration of the app enables consumers to make purchases by tapping their Android smartphone at more than 200,000 MasterCard PayPass-enabled merchant terminals across the U.S. On Thursday, Google announced support for mobile website transactions: The three-step process requires consumers to tap the Buy with Google Wallet button, log into Wallet and click to complete an order. Participants merchants include 1-800-Flowers.com, Rockport.com and FiveGuys.com.

For more:
- read this Android Police article
- read this Google Commerce blog entry

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Android, Google, Google Wallet, M-Commer..."

Forecast: Mobile will eclipse PCs as default Web gateway by 2015

Date: Tuesday, 30 Oct 2012 14:39

More U.S. consumers will access the Internet via mobile devices than PCs by 2015, according to a new forecast issued by research firm IDC. The number of Americans accessing the Web using PCs will shrink from 240 million in 2012 to 225 million in 2016, with the number of mobile Web users increasing from 174 million to 265 million during the same period, IDC reports, adding that Western Europe and Japan are only about two years behind the desktop-to-mobile transition. "The Great PC Exodus on the Internet is happening because the PC was never truly a consumer product," said Karsten Weide, program vice president, Media & Entertainment at IDC. "Many consumers use them because there was no better alternative. Now, with the huge and growing installed base of more user-friendly tablets and smartphones, there are." Release

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Metrics, Metrics and Analytics, Mobile W..."

Yahoo 'hasn't capitalized on the mobile opportunity,' CEO Mayer admits

Date: Tuesday, 23 Oct 2012 12:37

Hosting her first earnings call as Yahoo President and CEO, Marissa Mayer admitted Monday that the company has failed to exploit opportunities in the mobile segment, pledging dramatic changes moving forward.

Mayer--hired from Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) in July--said mobile "represents not only a daily habit, but a fundamental and massive platform shift, a platform shift that we have to ride and participate in, in order to be relevant." She added that Yahoo "hasn't capitalized on the mobile opportunity. We haven't effectively optimized our websites, we've underinvested in our mobile front-end development and we've splintered our brands. We have more than 76 applications across Android and iOS. All of this needs to change."

Calling a more focused and coherent mobile strategy Yahoo's "top priority," Mayer said the company will focus on building a "strong technical talent base for mobile" including engineers, product managers and designers. In the "near future," she said, "Yahoo will have to be a predominantly mobile company, which means that at least half of our technical workforce should be working on mobile."

Mayer added that Yahoo's core news, information, entertainment and social services are well positioned for mobile growth, stating "We will continue to work with top partners and media companies to further build and scale these opportunities. We'll strive to make the daily habits of smartphone and tablet use more social, engaging, beautiful and compelling."

Yahoo reported third quarter earnings of $3.16 billion, up from $293 million in the year-ago quarter--the spike was attributed to the $2.8 billion sale of Yahoo's stake in Chinese Internet giant Alibaba. Revenue slipped 1 percent to $1.202 billion from $1.217 billion a year ago; search revenue increased 1 percent to $473 million, and display revenue also rose 1 percent to $506 million.

Mayer noted that Yahoo's third quarter efforts also included a redesigned mobile search page rolled out in 23 international markets, generating increased usage. Yahoo additionally updated its Flickr photo sharing app for Google's Android and overhauled its IntoNow second-screen check-in app.

For more:
- read this Wall Street Journal article
- read this Seeking Alpha transcript

Special Report: Wireless in the third quarter of 2012

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Company News & Earnings, Financial News ..."

Verizon app usage monitoring raises consumer privacy fears

Date: Tuesday, 16 Oct 2012 15:26

Consumer privacy advocates are calling into question a new Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) program that offers marketers information on subscribers' mobile Web and application usage patterns.

Verizon recently launched Precision Mobile Insights, which collects information on millions of subscribers to help advertisers identify information like which iOS and Android apps are in use in which geographic regions. According to Verizon, Precision Mobile Insights does not run afoul of legal issues because all data is aggregated and does not reveal subscribers' identities. In addition, customers may opt-out at any time.

"As a carrier, our consumers and brands look to us to really help them figure out mobile," Colson Hillier, Verizon's vice president of precision marketing, recently told FierceMobileContent. "We realized we had a latent asset. We have information about how customers are using their mobile phones… About a year ago, we worked with customers and advisory boards to devise a privacy policy that the company and customers were comfortable with and allowed us to take insights from the network and use technology to make that information anonymous--so none of it was personally identifiable--and create a series of tools that companies can use to better understand their consumers."

But Hanni Fakhoury, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, tells CNet that any wireless carrier that discloses information about which URLs a customer visits could violate the Wiretap Act, a federal law aimed at protecting consumer privacy in their communications with other persons. The Wiretap Act states that carriers may not "divulge the contents of any communication."

"I don't see any substantive difference between collecting content from one person and turning it over to someone, and collecting it from multiple people, aggregating that information and then turning the aggregated data over to someone else," Fakhoury says. "In the end, there is still a capturing of content from the user at some point--and that's what the potential [Wiretap Act] problem is."

Ryan Radia, who serves as associate director of technology studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute think tank, agrees that disclosing aggregated URLs visited can pose legal risks. "If Verizon Wireless discloses the URLs you've accessed without your consent, it has violated [the Wiretap Act]--even if Verizon Wireless doesn't disclose any other identifying information," Radia says, but adds that if Verizon has obtained consent for the Precision Market Insights program by updating its privacy policy and allowing subscribers to opt-out, the operator has successfully satisfied Wiretap Act requirements.

Although Verizon Wireless declined to answer CNet's questions about the technology powering Precision Mobile Insights, the company did provide a statement reading "Verizon is committed to customer privacy and takes the issue seriously. The Precision program complies with the law and protects the privacy of our customers. The reports available through the program will not disclose the content of specific customer communications because each report will contain aggregate data from a large number of customers to protect privacy. Customers who do not want their data used as part of the program can opt-out at any time."

For more:
- read this CNet article

Author: "Jason" Tags: "Mobile Applications, Mobile Marketing, M..."

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