Google’s dream of creating a mobile payment facility is one step closer with Google close to finalizing a deal with MasterCard and Citigroup that will see Android powered devices embedded with technology that allows customers to make purchases directly through their phone at the check-out.

By using near field communication technology (NFC), Google hopes to make credit and debit cards a thing of the past. If the deal goes ahead then customers with a android powered phone will simply wave their phone in front of a small reader installed at the cash counter and the payment will be processed. The idea is to turn the phones into a kind of electronic wallet.

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Having dominated Smartphone sales for a long time now and in that achieving large revenue from the sale of Apple’s iPhones, AT&T could face some problems in the near future. These problems could be the result of alleged rumours indicating the closure of AT&T’s contract of bearing exclusive rights to sell iPhones. Another gossip that is doing rounds is that Verizon Wireless will take over the exclusive rights from the incumbent store AT&T to market and sell iPhones and this will happen from the first quarter of 2011. Keeping this in mind the AT&T store has gone ahead and readied itself by broadening its product portfolio and also struck a new deal that could delight Smartphone users.

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Starbucks is giving customers one more reason to stop in, and to stick around, with Starbucks Digital Network. In a partnership with Yahoo, its taking exclusive content and free downloads that are only available to customers tapping into the wifi at one of its thousands of retail locations. (more…)

Annual U.S. mobile music projections from BMI set the value of the 2010 retail ringback-tone market in the United States at $181 million, down 7% from its revised 2009 retail forecast of $195 million.  Ringtone sales peaked in 2008 at $210 million. Consumers may be abandoning short form mobile entertainment like ringbacks and ringtones in favor of full tracks and streaming. 

“The falloff in the ringback-tone market mimics the deceleration of ringtone revenues several years ago, which actually sparked the birth of ringback,” noted Richard Conlon, BMI’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Communications and New Media. “We are poised for another form factor and consumer behavior shift. This shift is driven by the increase in handheld data devices, enhanced content offerings and improved wireless infrastructure. The industry is coming into alignment to deliver new streaming-based services that we feel will equate to growth.”

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In a surprising move to many, Nokia has made a change at the top by replacing CEO Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo with “outsider” Stephen Elop. What’s surprising to many is that Elop, a Canadian, comes from Microsoft and takes over a company that’s synonymous with Finland and everything that’s Finnish! Some details from Nokia… Before joining Microsoft, Elop held senior executive positions in a number of US-based public companies, including Juniper Networks, Adobe Systems Inc. and Macromedia Inc. He holds a degree in computer engineering and management from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, which is his home country. Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo will leave his current position as President and CEO of Nokia on September 20, 2010 and his position on the Nokia Board of Directors with immediate effect. He will continue to chair the Board of Nokia Siemens Networks in a non-executive capacity.

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Still thinking of going mobile? Maybe it’s time to do something about it! Consider this, the worldwide smartphone applications market grew more than $2.2 billion dollars within the first six months of 2010 (this according to http://www.research2guidance.com).

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Eric Peterson has released a new whitepaper (sponsored by OpinionLab), titled The Mobile Measurement Framework: Making Sense of Your Mobile Efforts in the Context of Your Business. The result of the whitepaper is a rich set of key performance indicators focused on user experience, interaction, engagement, and costs that can be applied to mobile sites, mobile applications, and traditional web sites easily, effectively, and inexpensively. I had a chance to catch up with Eric to get his insight on his Mobile Framework. (more…)

(UPDATED) AT&T is replacing its $29.99 per moth unlimited data plan, popular with iPhone and iPad users, with $15 (200MB) and $25 (2G) plans. While a reported 95% of mobile users do not currently exceed the 2G limit, increased use of new video and music in the cloud applications could lead to additional charges.  

Unlimited mobile data has long been considered an unsustainable model by some analysts, and it is believed that other cell services will also set limits. That’s not good news for a growing list of companies delivering data heavy music services like downloads and video or music streaming to smartphones.

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Google’s Android mobile operating system continued to shake up the U.S. mobile phone market in the first quarter of 2010, moving past Apple to take the number-two position among smartphone operating systems, according to The NPD Group. Based on sales last quarter the Android  moved into second position at 28% behind RIM Blackberry at 36% and ahead of Apple iPhone at 21%. (more…)

Now that the Digital Economy Bill is now the Digital Economy Act – a piece of legislation that has been bitterly opposed by many – a report in today’s Guardian says that the likelihood for innocent people to be accused of illegal file downloading has greatly increased because of this new law.

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