Archive for the ‘iPhone’ Category
Mobile VOIP
July 22nd, 2007
MatthewA few years ago, cellular companies did us all a huge favor by charging the same for a call across the country as for a call across the street. It kicked the floor out from under long-distance rates long before VoIP savings arrived.
Now we cell phone users can show our gratitude by using a new breed of VoIP websites to sidestep one of the cellcos’ few moneymakers: international calling charges. Services like Cordia, Globe Dialer, JaJah, Pingo and Rebtel let us hop onto the internet and overseas via our cell phones–typically for 2 to 25 cents a minute (plus any plan minutes used). Rates vary by country, but providers claim to save you up to 90 percent over the cellcos’ international plans.
Note: These are mobile calls, not PC connections over wired services like Skype. And unlike Skype, the new VoIP services aren’t waiting for the FCC to force cellcos to share the networks they’ve spent bazillions to build. They get in and out of the cellular walled gardens using combinations of toll-free land-line numbers, software downloads, text signals, callbacks and call forwarding.
Rebtel, for example, assigns you and your contacts different local numbers to reroute cell calls over the internet. Cordia has your overseas buddies use a toll-free number, then forwards the calls to your cell. JaJah and Globe Dialer require software downloads, while Pingo uses local or toll-free access numbers with its prepaid calling cards. It’s always a multistep process with varying amounts of hassle. But you don’t need to be near a wired broadband connection, and how does 12 cents a minute to your buddies in Brunei sound? Pick the service whose methods you can tolerate and that serves the countries where your foreign contacts live.
Text Voicemail
July 22nd, 2007
MatthewYour mobile phone voice mail is no longer restricted to living–and expiring–on your phone system. New services let you listen to or read your voice mail on your PC. CallWave Mobile Visual Voicemail is a free service that sends your cell phone voice mails to your e-mail and notifies you with a detailed SMS. You can then listen to, save or delete at will. CallWave is compatible with most carriers and is also available as a widget. Setup is fast and painless, and audio quality is as clear as with regular voice mail.
Two companies taking a slightly different approach are SpinVox and SimulScribe. Already well-established in the United Kingdom, SpinVox’s Real Visual Voicemail service has recently come to the U.S. It uses speech-to-text technology to send your voice mails to you as e-mails or text messages. SimulScribe delivers transcriptions of voice mails to your mobile phone, PDA or e-mail account. The company’s basic plan includes 40 messages and costs $9.95 per month. The text conversion systems will appeal to users who need to blaze through a high volume of voice mails without listening to each message completely.
Going to a mobile web conference
July 17th, 2007
MatthewThe Time For The Mobile Web Is Now……..
Experts agree that the United States is about to see the same explosive growth in mobile web users as the UK and Asia. In Japan shopping and surfing the web from the mobile phone is done by over 40% of adults. Americans are more than ready for the mobile web but most sites are not. Think about the convenience of shopping or getting information anytime and anywhere right from your wireless phone or PDA. Early adapters to this technology have a tremendous advantage to establish themselves. Leaders on the traditional web will not necessarily be the leaders on the mobile web.
The Mobile Web Americas conference and expo will bring together industry professionals from around the world to discuss how to improve and capitalize on the mobile web.
iPhone Developers Gather
July 6th, 2007
MatthewAfter this weekend, if everything goes according to plan, you’ll be able to download the first Web 2.0-based applications optimized for the Apple iPhone. The apps will stem from the collective brainpower of developers, designers, and testers who turn out for this weekend’s iPhone Developers Camp in San Francisco.
“It’s going to be the largest gathering of iPhone owners—we’ll probably have at least 150 iPhones in the same room,” promises event organizer Raven Zachary.
The idea for the gathering originated with Zachary, a technology analyst with the 451 Group and an iPhone user himself (he waited on line for 9 hours to get his phone at launch).
“The Friday after [Apple’s Worldwide Developer's Conference], I was sitting on my deck and thinking about how we could encourage an iPhone development community to spring up,” Zachary says, “And I thought we should organize a BarCamp-style camp.” These events bring together Web 2.0 developers in a free-form collaborative environment.
Portland, Oregon-based Zachary and five other organizers—including BarCamp founder Chris Messina—put together the iPhoneDevCamp in the three weeks following the end of the WWDC.
iPhone development community builds
Zachary initially called up a few friends in the community to organize the event—and immediately received positive responses. “We had no problem getting sponsors for this event,” says Zachary. “The developers, the designers, the testers—these are the people they want to reach out to. We have 35 sponsors: Adobe is hosting the event; and Yahoo is a sponsor and even buying Saturday lunch. Plus, we have a large number of iPhone accessory vendors like Belkin, DLO, and Griffin [that are] giving away accessories to the developers who are coding over the weekend.” Other sponsors include drink manufacturers Red Bull and the Mighty Leaf Tea Company, and snack maker Kettle Chips.
Event organizers expect to draw 300 developers, designers, and testers at this all-volunteer event. Apple is not a sponsor of the event.
“The focus is on people who are developers, designers, and testers,” says Zachary of the event’s structure. “It’ll be a great place for them to learn and work with their peers. [Participants] will work in teams over the weekend to build and launch applications for the iPhone. On Sunday, our goal is to have on our site, iPhoneDevCamp, links to a number of applications for the iPhone.”
iPhone development challenges
Earlier this summer, Apple announced at its WWDC that third-party iPhone applications will be allowed through iPhone’s Safari Web browser. Such applications will utilize Web 2.0 technologies.
The timing of this event is very specific, according to Zachary. “It’s a week out from the iPhone’s release, so everyone is still learning how to optimize [code] for the iPhone. The iPhone is a new opportunity for Web developers,” he says.
All applications will be run off the Internet, via the Safari browser. “Pages can be cached locally,” says Zachary, “but you’re really operating applications on the Internet.”
Zachary says organizers are expecting great things out of the collaborative sessions this weekend. “There are people who are coming to build things entirely from scratch, and those who are coming to build an iPhone version of something that already exists. It could be a Web site that’s optimized for the iPhone, or it could be a productivity application.”
Apple released its Web iPhone developer guidelines Thursday; those guidelines note that the version of Safari on the iPhone uses the same Web kit engine as does Safari on the computer. By limiting the applications to Web 2.0, though, Apple is being both visionary and restrictive.
As has been widely noted, the iPhone’s browser can’t deal with Flash or JavaScript. That limitation constrains developers’ creativity from the get-go. Another limitation is the iPhone’s inability to store Web-based content locally. “Sadly, as far as I know, Safari on the iPhone requires either an EDGE or a Wi-Fi connection. Because of that,” Zachary admits, “I think there are going to be some application ideas that will be hard to implement. But we’re going to wholeheartedly embrace what we’ve got, and do some cool stuff.”
iPhone apps: Ready to go
The goal is for the end results from the weekend codefest to appear online. “We’re encouraging people not only to post the apps, but also to share the source code,” explains Zachary. “We’re not requiring they open-source the code, though; we do have some commercial developers coming. But we want people to be able to share their coding with the development community. And we’ll probably post pretty direct instructions on our site, explaining how to bookmark these apps and sync them with your iPhone.”
Though Apple has roped off the home screen from developers, Zachary thinks that this policy will change over time. “It’s probably inevitable that Apple will release the ability to put applications on the home screen,” he notes. “If you’re going to get 10 million users out there, you’re going to have the Mac development community want to reach those 10 million users. I think the opportunity for third-party developers is too great for it not to happen in the long term.” The iPhone can receive software updates via the sync process with iTunes; those updates could make new features available in the future, just as you can add new features to Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD players via firmware.
Zachary emphasizes that the iPhoneDevCamp is a working event and not a users group meeting, but he admits that the group that will assemble won’t be an ordinary meeting of minds. “This is the world’s biggest iPhone focus group, with the earliest of early adopters,” he notes with infectious enthusiasm.
IPhones ‘all but sold out’ first shipment
July 5th, 2007
MatthewCUPERTINO, Calif., Jul 3, 2007 (UPI via COMTEX) — Apple Inc.’s new iPhone multimedia and Web-enabled cell phone has “all but sold out” its initial shipment, Apple and AT&T Inc. say.
Neither Apple nor AT&T, which has an exclusive multiyear contract to provide iPhone cell-phone service, would disclose sales figures.
But telecom analysts estimated 500,000 to 700,000 devices totaling $250 million were sold by Sunday after three days of sales, USA Today reported.
A number of customers were not able to transfer their old cell phone numbers to AT&T during the weekend, various media and blogs reported.
And some AT&T customers said their existing cell phones had been deactivated while they were still waiting for their iPhones to be activated, leaving them without a working phone.
AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said those problems had been addressed and were “substantially behind us,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
Apple has a Web page () that lets consumers type in their ZIP code to determine — after 9 p.m. local time — where to find an available iPhone the next day.
My iphone
July 3rd, 2007
MatthewI purchased my iphone on Saturday. I wanted to go on record that this phone is the best thing out there. As a designer / salesmen, this phone completely opens up the opportunity to show our portfolio anywhere: a restaurant, a club, tradeshow, anywhere. This make casual conversions into business meetings. It will take some time before everybody understands how this phone changes both our personal life and business, but it will happen. Be sure to check it out.
iRock. You should too.
Apple iPhone margins 55 percent
July 3rd, 2007
MatthewNEW YORK (Reuters) - The most expensive iPhone model could deliver a profit margin of more than 55 percent for Apple Inc. after hardware and manufacturing costs, according to iSuppli, which examined the components of the widely anticipated device.Apple shares rose more than 4 percent after the research firm said on Tuesday that the hardware and manufacturing cost was $265.83, or almost 45 percent of the $600 retail price for the iPhone model with eight gigabytes of storage.ISuppli said its estimates did not include costs such as royalties and logistics. Some analysts have also speculated that AT&T Inc. , the exclusive U.S. service provider for the phone, may take a portion of the iPhone retail price for devices it sells in its stores.According to iSuppli, the phone’s display, a much lauded feature for the device, costs $27 or about 10.8 percent of the device’s hardware costs. The display was supplied by Germany’s Balda AG , iSuppli said.The phone’s core communications chips, from Infineon Technologies AG , represents $15.25 or 6.1 percent of the cost.
The iPhone, which combines phone, music playing and Web browsing capabilities, went on sale on Friday June 29 as thousands of buyers lined up at Apple and AT&T stores.Estimates for Friday and Saturday sales of the device ranged from 312,000 to 500,000, according to analysts contacted by Reuters. AT&T said that iPhone sales for the weekend were the strongest for any device in the company’s history. In January, iSuppli said it had estimated a $264.85 hardware and manufacturing cost for the eight-gigabyte device before the firm was able to take the phone apart to look at its components.Apple shares were up $4.85 or almost 4 percent to $126.11 in hectic trading on Nasdaq after the news.
Shares of AT&T were down 53 cents at $41.32 on the New York Stock Exchange.
Copyright 2007 Reuters
iphone release
July 2nd, 2007
adminIt’s hard to find a negative review on the iPhone. Apple set a high bar and delivered. Mitch Ratcliffe calls the iPhone spectacular. Jason O’Grady gives the iPhone 5 stars and reviews from around the Web are all on the iPhone bandwagon.
The bottom line: No one has a clue how many iPhones moved over the weekend–until Apple discloses it. If Apple hits a nice round number, say 1 million units in three days we’ll hear about it soon. If not, Apple will keep quiet with its quarterly results due in two weeks or so.
J.P. Morgan analyst Bill Shope says iPhone demand “may have been disappointing, but it’s still early.” He is projecting 312,000 iPhone units over the weekend. One thing is certain: The folks that camped out for an iPhone didn’t have to. That means demand may have been light or supply was much better than expected.
Apple iphone Released tomorrow
June 28th, 2007
adminThe Apple iPhone launches today, June 29. The new product encapsulates a significant shift in Apple’s strategic focus, which is extending steadily beyond the computer into the broader realm of consumer electronics and digitally connected lifestyles. However, the exclusivity and terms of the agreement between Apple and AT&T means that, in the short term, the iPhone will have a limited impact on the structure of the U.S. market for mobile telephony. In the longer term, the device probably will instigate a process of innovation and diversification.
Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) is hoping that the distinctive design of the iPhone will disrupt and even re-invent the concept of the mobile handset in the United States and worldwide. Apple has forecast relatively modest sales of 10 million units by the end of 2008, which would translate into an approximate 1% share of the world market for handsets.
The iPhone represents a natural extension of the successful iPod franchise from a standalone digital music player into a multi-functional communications, media and information device with Internet access. In particular, as Apple marketing drives interest in smart phone features, iPhone design will force other mobile handset makers more aggressively to develop and diversify their offerings.
The handset includes a sophisticated operating system (based on Mac OS X, which is used on Apple’s existing computers); innovative applications, including visual voice mail and improved full Web browsing capabilities (using Safari); and multi-touch screen technology, enabling users to interact with the device using their fingers rather than a stylus.
Similar to other Apple products, the iPhone has attracted considerable media attention and publicity. Sales of the iPhone probably will benefit from short-term stock shortages, thereby stoking demand and anticipation throughout the summer months. However, the relatively high price of the iPhone ($499 for a four-gigabyte model; $599 for an eight-gigabyte model) will limit mass-market customer adoption.
Like the iPod, the iPhone will be a closed technology platform, sacrificing openness for simplicity in the user experience. However, there will be scope for software developers to create third-party applications for the iPhone, which must operate within the confines of the Safari browser.
In recent years, the first generation of Apple products have suffered from relatively higher levels of manufacturing defects compared with competitors. For example, customers reported problems with screens on the first generation of the iPod Nano, as well as earlier versions of the PowerBook.
Apple sought to allay concerns about the iPhone, announcing an upgraded glass screen, and extended battery life, in the two weeks preceding launch. However, several characteristics have raised debates about the appeal of the first-generation iPhone.
These include:
–the general durability of the device, compared with equivalent mobile handsets, and the life of the battery, which is not removable;
–the user interface, particularly for those accustomed to tactile feedback with keys when sending text messages; and
–the speed of Internet access, which will rely on AT&T’s (nyse: T - news - people ) relatively slow EDGE network in areas without wi-fi.
Apple essentially has focused on entering rather than disrupting the U.S. mobile telephony market. The flawed yet necessary agreement with a provider such as AT&T is illustrative of the challenges facing entry into this market. The closed nature of the iPhone means it will have relatively limited implications for the structure of the market, at least in the short term. However, it does signal the beginning of a new era of multi-functional mobile handsets, consisting of media, communications and information.
Over time, there will be growing pressure for handset makers, including Apple, to enhance the networking capabilities of handsets–notably by taking advantage of faster third-generation (3G) networks. There will be pressure on Apple to maintain a steady stream of new iPhone models, address design limitations and offset the competitive threat posed by potentially more open and flexible devices from rival firms.
Start Up Idea
June 23rd, 2007
MatthewMobile Advertising: If you want to market your business, forget the Super Bowl. Instead, spread your message on the small screen–the really small screen, as in cell phones. With nearly two-thirds of our nation’s population owning cell phones, according to CTIA Wireless, it’s hard to imagine staying competitive if you don’t. For businesses looking to capitalize, the cost of mobile marketing varies from very cheap (sending SMS messages) to expensive (sending video commercials). According to RBC Capital, U.S. spending on marketing and advertising over wireless networks is expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2010.