Five years ago, penning a MediaPost piece that feels like it was written far more recently, I asked, “Is all mobile local?” That question would have been a more fitting title for the column rather than the wonkier one I used, “The Mobile-Local Redundancy,” which sounds like a rejected name for a Jason Bourne movie. The question and the column answering it remain relevant, making me wonder if so little has changed in sixty-one months.
Verizon and Apple both, made big gains on Wall Street as highly substantial rumors were being made of Verizon finally getting support for the iPhone. WSJ.com has cited unnamed sources, though they seem positive that their information is accurate. Before going further, it should be noted that neither Apple, Verizon, or the manufacturers of the supposed Verizon iPhone, Pegatron, have made official statements.
(more…)
Some interesting mobile safety apps from Down-under out of the LBS Wireless crew.. welcome several news apps designed to keep users safe - Gone Boating, Gone Trekking and Gone Flying. The apps utilize the GPS, Google maps, calendar and camera features of the iPhone. Each application enables the user to record their departure, destination and waypoint information. They also enable the user to email or post a Twitter message containing their trip details and maps. With the applications users can:
If you’re a Verizon customer, you’ll want to read this. Verizon has automatically opted all customers into a new program which allows them to share your information with just about anyone they want. Apparently some customers are receiving a notice via mail but for some reason I did not and others haven’t received one either. Verizon is clearly hoping to keep this under the radar.
Here is the legal language from Verizon:
Verizon Wireless and its affiliates (the “Verizon Companies”) provide services to you. In doing so, we may each collect certain information that is made available to us solely by virtue of our relationship with you, such as quantity, technical configuration, type, destination, location and amount of use of the telecommunications services you purchase. This information and related billing information is known as Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI). The Federal Communications Commission and other regulators require the Verizon Companies to protect your CPNI.
(more…)
Possibly the most interesting news so far to come out of the Mobile World Congress taking place in Barcelona this week is that there seems to be clear agreement among mobile operators and equipment manufacturers to develop and bring to market a universal mobile phone charger.
I’ve been taking a look at Google Latitude, a new geo-location tool that looks to be an oh-so-easy way to share your location data in real time with friends and colleagues.
I installed it on my Nokia N95 8GB yesterday in a process that was one of the simplest and quickest installations on this smartphone that I can remember. The installer upgraded the copy of Google Maps that was already installed to the latest version 3; from within Maps I chose to use Latitude.
Although the deal was pretty well signed, sealed and delivered back in November last year, it is now official: Microsoft has trumped Google and Yahoo! to be the search engine of choice for Verizon.
Microsoft CEO made the announcement on the partnership at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (more…)
A few weeks ago, we reported that free WiFi may be coming to a city near you. The proposal, which is pending FCC approval, would auction public airwaves with a mandate for free WiFi nationwide.
T-Mobile is one of the leading advocates against the bill, saying it would cause interference with theirs and others’ services. The FCC’s engineers have looked into the issue, and assure that this would not be a problem.
One of the top Democratic lawmakers has asked the FCC to delay voting on this proposal, and the FCC will vote on whether or not to delay it on Thursday.
Should the FCC delay action on the proposal, it will most likely decide not to take action on it until after February 2009. Why? In February, the FCC will be overseeing the transition digital television across the U.S and doesn’t want anything to divert its attention during this time.
As a result of a huge growth in local targeting and mobile device usage, local search is coming up fast and this provides a good avenue to all Internet Marketers. The session was meant to discuss the various perspectives on local search engines with regard to Search Engines, Wireless Audiences and SEO/SEM marketeers.
Moderator:
Speakers:
