It is being proposed as the next standard for HTML and is aiming to reduce the need for plug-in-based rich internet application technologies like Adobe Flash, Sun JavaFX and Microsfot Silverlight. Fans of HTML 5 say that it can deliver the same type of rich media experience of Flash in HTML such as rollover interaction, multiple videos, and banners-within-banners. There is also built-in support for audio and video. Some companies that create ads for digital media have started to support both technologies.
If you want to see an HTML 5 tutorial at work, watch the video below. Not shown here, you can actually change the background colors along with brushes and textures. Enjoy.
[By the way, did you know you can receive notices for Mobile Marketing and Mobile App Developer jobs from FoneGigs.com? Join us on FB, Twitter, or LinkedIn now!]
For application developers who want complete control over how much they charge for their applications and don’t want to rely on one major platform, there is good news.
Bango is one solution that works across Blackberry’s, Window’s Mobile, iPhone, and Nokia/Symbian. Using credit cards, PayPal or operator billing, developers can collect payments from users.
Hire top Mobile Advertising Specialists at FoneGigs.com
Another in-app mobile billing provider is Paythru. Without having to leave the application, consumers can pay a fee or upgrade to a premium version of the application without having to go to a separate payment site.
So are developers allowed to circumvene Apple’s and Android’s default payment system and Market Developer Distribution Agreements?
With Google Android and other platforms, yes. However, Apple does not allow you to download digital content to the iPhone if you try using another in-app mobile billing solution other than iTunes (App Store).
For a list of general Mobile Payment Service Providers (just pay by mobile for a good or service and not through an aplication), click here. To download free mobile directories like Mobile Ad Networks, Mobile Analytics Companies, Mobile Search Companies, and In-game ad networks, click here.
Feel free to comment about your experience using any of these solutions. You can also make new friends who are also in the mobile marketing industry by joining our Facebook group here.
FoneGigs, the FIRST job board dedicated to jobs in the Mobile Advertising Industry, will launch in May 2010 and provide the latest Mobile Art Design jobs available.
In generaly, a mobile art designer is a web designer with knowlege of designing a web experience for mobile phone users. The Mobile Graphic Designer works with a team of UI designers, user researchers, design managers, software engineers, and brand marketers.
The typical requirements are:
experience in web design
likes to create simple, seamless product experiences
Strong interest in design and technology trends
Maintain creative vision and preserve the brand’s design assets
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic design
work samples that show design skills
Can use Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop
Find all the latest Mobile Artist Design Jobs at FoneGigs!
A warning from Apple it will ban iPhone applications with advertising linked to a user’s location is rippling through the tech blogosphere in light of the company’s recent acquisition of mobile ad network Quattro Wireless.
In a notice to iPhone developers , Apple said it will reject apps that use location information to deliver targeted ads:
“If you build your application with features based on a user’s location, make sure these features provide beneficial information. If your app uses location-based information primarily to enable mobile advertisers to deliver targeted ads based on a user’s location, your app will be returned to you by the App Store Review Team for modification before it can be posted to the App Store,” states the post.
Ceasars Palace Launches First GPS iPhone App in Hospitality Industry
works well in Las Vegas because people are usually visiting The Strip to opt in to everything, doubling down on blackjack and going all in at the poker table. It’s smart for casino mobile marketers to grab users while their normal opt-in guards are down.
The latest in Vegas-based mobile marketing comes from Caesars Palace, and this app includes the first-ever GPS mobile marketing tool in the hospitality industry, according to the company. Starting this month, guests can find restaurant hours and hotel information, book a spa or salon treatment, see who is performing in The Colosseum and more. The resort is the first in the hospitality industry to feature opt-in GPS capabilities, which can customize offers to venues located near the user.
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If a guest opts-in to the GPS capabilities, they will be presented with location-specific marketing offers during their stay. Caesars can track when a guest is at any of Harrah’s Entertainment” properties and provide special offers at those hotels and casinos.
What’s more interesting to us mobile marketers is what lands in the #2 and #3 spots on their list: “Location-Based Services” and “Mobile Search.” Also, the #8 spot goes to our favorite “Mobile Advertising.” My post earlier this morning on location-based advertiser 1020 Placecast’s latest round of funding supports the thesis that when it comes to mobile, people expect to be able to discover things around them. That makes sense — after all, what good is a mobile device if you can’t have access to information that you need in the moment?
Gartner reports that location-based services will be “one of the most disruptive in the next few years.” Gartner predicts that the LBS user base will grow globally from 96 million in 2009 to more than 526 million 2012. “Its high user value is the result of its ability to meet a range of needs, ranging from productivity and goal fullfillment to social networking and entertainment.”
Mobile search, which Gartner notes has an ultimate purpose “to drive sales and marketing opportunities on the mobile phone,” is only lacking now in user experience. Once “the industry improves the user experience of mobile search so that people will come back again,” Gartner predicts it will be the third most popular app in 2012.
Coming in at #8, mobile advertising is no laughing matter. Total spending on mobile advertising in 2008 was $530.2 million, which Gartner expects will grow to $7.5 billion in 2012. “Mobile advertising will be an important way to monetize content on the mobile Internet, offering free applications and services to end users. The mobile channel will be used as part of larger advertising campaigns in various media, including TV, radio, print and outdoors,” says Gartner.
Here’s the full top 10 mobile app types of the future, according to Gartner:
1. Money Transfer
2. Location-Based Services
3. Mobile Search
4. Mobile Browsing
5. Mobile Health Monitoring
6. Mobile Payment
7. Near Field Communication Services
8. Mobile Advertising
9. Mobile Instant Messaging
10. Mobile Music
If you aren’t a hardcore software developer, but have a great mobile application idea? No problem.
A slew of intermediary platforms have sprouted up recently targeting an increasing number of people, who have ideas for new applications, but don’t have the technical skills to build them. For the past few months, I’ve been getting emails almost weekly about a new platform. Mostly, they are targeting Apple’s iPhone, but others allow users to publish to other platforms, like Microsoft’s Windows Mobile, BlackBerry and Android. Many of them use drag and drop features to build apps from within templates. Typically, users upload their own art, and can feed in content via RSS or other methods.
The company list includes EachScape, MyAppBuilder.com, AppBreeder.com, GameSalad.com, Mobile On’s BuildAnApp, SwebApps, MobileRoadie, RhoMobile. Most of them are cheap enough to allow the lowliest of entrepreneurs to get started, but almost all see their bread-and-butter coming from small companies that want to cheaply and easily extend their web presence to mobile.
Some offer annual pricing, while others offer complicated licensing agreements, and some specialize in particular niches, such as musicians, or content publishers and niche magazines. Today, BusinessWeek wrote about the phenomenon by highlighting users of the various companies. Tom Johnson created an app to market his wedding-video business called Alliance Video Products. The app plays a sample video, connects users to a blog, and lets potential clients call him. Johnson wrote the app in one day, and didn’t write any code. It cost $300 upfront and $30 a month to maintain. He said it has lead to 10 leads and two sales, making it totally worth it.
Another provider—Swebapps, which launched late this summer—has already signed up about 800 customers, according to BusinessWeek, and about 30 of their apps have gotten approval from Apple (NSDQ: AAPL). The company plans to increase production to about 60 apps a month by 2010. Likewise, since launching its templates in July, AppBreeder.com has gained 1,300 members and is adding about 100 new users a week.
Minneapolis-based Mobile On has created a service called BuildAnApp, that can be used by a church, a small pizza place, or even a little league team to produce an application. The company is expecting to launch an open beta soon. President Anders Davidson told mocoNews they are hoping for the platform to be free, but then to charge users for updates. Total costs likely would not exceed $120 a year. Anders: “For most of these small businesses, this isn’t a crucial line of business. It’s not worth it for these companies to drop $5,000 or $10,000.” EachScape launched in May with at least two partners—Hachette and Time Out magazines, which used the platform to create apps. Ludo Collin, who was a former exec at mobile content company Vindigo, said the company’s premise is that “It shouldn’t be more difficult to build an app, than it is a good power point presentation.”
Only do apps when you need more. “Compared to browsing, mobile apps offer a richer level of user interaction allowing more complex graphics, media and information to be presented. They also provide a more robust and secure environment for user engagement. But, if you can deliver what you are trying to achieve through a browser you will be able to reach far more consumers.” Jeremy Copp, CEO, Rapid Mobile Media Ltd.
Tell people about your app. “Don’t just rely on app stores, you can distribute apps via mobile sites, operators and through multiple ad placements and formats for maximum impact and reach.” Theo Theodorou, EMEA Sales Manager, Mobile Advertising, Microsoft Advertising
Think further than the iPhone. ”The iPhone offers fantastic functionality for developers and users alike, and apps developed for the platform are eminently PR-able, and are often shared virally. It has a fast growing user base, and reaches relatively wealthy 25-44 year olds who actively use mobile media very well; but also developing a java version, optimised to work over a wide range of handsets including BlackBerry will give you a far greater potential reach.” Mark Angell, Business Development Director, Marvellous
tGetting the balance right. “There are 2 fundamental balances to achieve. Firstly, business objectives vs user needs-for the application to be effective the business needs must carefully consider the user as well as commercial objectives. Secondly, the three E’s (Engagement, Entertainment and Effectiveness)-functional apps often outlast the usage of entertainment based apps.” Paul Taylor, Strategist & Planner, COI
The average app user. “There are 8.7 million people who have used a downloaded app in the UK which is 18% of mobile users. 60% of these users are playing games that they have downloaded. The median age of an apps user is 32 years old and 43% are female. 36% of app users own smartphones compared to 15% of the total market.” Alistair Hill, Analyst and Mobile Products, Europe, comScore
Brand-building vs sales. “Free applications get the most downloads, where as paid-for applications generate revenue. Knowing whether you are branding or selling is a key point when launching your first application.” Ross Butler, Creative, Parrott and Miller
UX Designers and Mobile App Developers, have recruiters find you at FoneGigs.com.
Product longevity is essential. “Every service needs a roadmap, no matter how basic. Customers will quickly get bored with a uni-functional app which has no new features or capability added over time. By adding functionality as time goes on you can create brand advocacy.” Christian Harris, CEO, Gorilla Box
Send them in the right direction. “Ads in existing applications are a great place to advertise, but make sure that the destination site is optimised for mobile. If you don’t then you risk low conversion and a poor perception of your brand.” Jonathan Abraham, Brand Sales Director, AdMob
Test, Test and Test again. “If a customer can access it on their handset it needs to work. If it doesn’t it will do more damage than good to your brand. Invite feedback and always read customer reviews (don’t just ask friends to write them!) to ensure you’re meeting the needs of your consumer.” Oliver Newton, Head of Emerging Platforms, i-level
Be on brand. “Just like with any form of communication ensure that your app is ‘on brand’. Tone of voice, brand values, message, production values and brand fit are essential in making a great brand app.” Kieron Matthews, Marketing Director, IAB
