MobileBeyond

Craig Dalton, formerlky with mPlayit From the earliest days of Java-based mobile phones to today's more powerful smartphones, mobile games have been the most popular apps available on the mobile Web. Smartphone mobile games at mPlayit aren't an exception. Free smartphone mobile games  are available for Android, iPhone, BlackBerry and feature phones from GetJar and other online app stores. The problem? How do mobile phone users find and choose the best and latest mobile games on the mobile Internet? That's where mPlayit helps. Mplayit is the leading global provider for online playable discovery and social merchandising of mobile games and applications. The company uses social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as  other mobile content providers, to help  consumers find the top mobile games. The company's proprietary software solutions improve merchandising, marketing, and interactions with a targeted user audience of mobile consumers. (Mplayit is backed by New Atlantic Ventures.) Smartphone Mobile Games Surround mPlayit In its latest survey, mPlayit found that 47% of the most popular mobile apps for the iPhone are games, 20% for Android phones and 30% for Blackberry owners. This dispels the belief that Blackberry owners only read email and track their schedules and  business expenses. Here's a chart showing the top three mobile games for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry phones.   Craig Dalton of mPlayit Craig Dalton, mPlayit's Vice President of Business Development, has 16 years experience in sales and marketing management. He also has extensive experience building profitable business strategies in the mobile industry. Responsible for establishing strategic relationships with mobile operators, social media and Web 2.0 companies, Craig helps develop and increase revenue streams using the company’s online trial and merchandising solutions. Prior to Mplayit, Dalton managed business development for MMS pioneer Hook Mobile where he developed initiatives with wireless operators and social media platforms. Craig Dalton has also managed business development for global mobile entertainment publisher I-Play. While with Proteus, an interactive television and mobile pioneer, Craig completed the first TV-to-SMS campaign in the U.S. for Super Bowl 36. Craig earned an MBA from the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Irvine and a BSBA in Business Administration from The American University. Smartphone Mobile Games Podcast Interview with Craig Dalton In a conversion with Brian Prows, Craig discusses the growth of mobile games from the earliest Java-based to today's sophisticated games that only operate on complex smartphones. During the audio interview, Craig shares his views on a variety of topics, including: Popularity differences among smartphone mobile games available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android phone users. Compare to mobile game popularity in China. Why many feature phone users with Java-based phones aren't aware of the capabilities of their mobile devices and available games Fragmentation within the mobile game industry due to apps that only run on specific mobile platforms Unique characteristics of the Kindle and iPad Growth and flexibility of Android mobile phones How consumers can use Facebook and other social media sites to discover and experience the best mobile games Developers' need for word-of-mouth to market their mobile apps to targeted audiences Why 90% of mobile users have NEVER downloaded a game with the exception of iPhone and other smartphone users The reasons why 90% of all mobile game sales are from the "top 10" list The importance of reasonable data plans to improve mobile game users' satisfaction Why mobile carriers/operators, especially outside the U.S.,  need to better market feature phone mobile games to customers How mPlayit, using Web-based tools, helps consumers discover mobile content of value Differences among mobile users based on age, sex and their choice of smartphones. See my post "Smarter Smartphones or Electronic Gadgets?" Demographic changes in mobile game buying patterns Why Android owners may be "geekier" than BlackBerry and iPhone owners. (See a related post: "Are Smartphones Really Smart?" The "might" of bigger publishers, such as Namco, to drive sales of CSI Miami, Spider Man, Ms. PAC-Man and other mobile games. Web apps used by movie companies and television networks Craig is bullish on the Apple iPad but thinks the Kindle may offer a better e-reader experience Prediction that the economics of Android OS will make the platform attractive to developers and dominate mobile in multiple wireless devices Experienced publishers will prevail as they deal with multiple games on mobile phones Listen as Craig paints the landscape of the mobile game industry today and in the future. Smartphone Mobile Games at mPlayit: mplayit.com Twitter: @Mplayit [email protected] Craig's Blog Craig Dalton’s LinkedIn Profile [email protected] One1Speed  - Craig on Twitter

Improving Cell Phone Reception with Scott Goodrich of CSI's Product Division Improving cell phone reception for voice and data in buildings and mass transit is essential for consumers, businesses and wireless carriers. As more people use their mobile phones at work, home, inside commuter trains and elsewhere, cell phone signal boosters have become critical. Cell Phone Reception Solutions Cellular Specialties (CSI) helps wireless carriers improve mobile phone signal strength, voice quality and wireless data quality within buildings and inside moving vehicles. CSI supplies cell phone extenders, repeaters and other cellular equipment to U.S. wireless carriers (AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile and others) that boost wireless reception for customers. The CSI Product Division specializes in the development of in-building amplifiers, repeaters and a variety of system components. The company became the preferred repeater vendor for all U.S. wireless carriers after introducing a cell phone repeater that exceeds industry standards boosting mobile phone signal strength. CSI  markets its products primarily within North America, although its cellular solutions are available through resellers in China, as well as Latin and South America. Visit CSI on Twitter for further information. Scott Goodrich, who leads the Product Division at Cellular Specialties, is President and  co-founder of the cell phone reception company. A telecommunications industry veteran,  Scott has over 11 years experience delivering in-building wireless products and services. He also co-founded Wavelink Communications, a wireless communications company responsible for the early funding of CSI. Previously, Scott worked in Sales and Marketing for Nextel Communications, Open Development Corporation and Vedas Systems. He’s a graduate of Northeastern University with a BS in Marketing. Cellular repeaters improve signal strength for mass transit In the podcast interview with Brian Prows, Scott discusses cell phone repeaters, boosters and other cellular products for wireless carriers that improve cell phone signal strength for all U.S. carriers. In particular, Scott points out the differences between voice and data demands on cellular networks affecting cell phone reception.

As I spoke with Michael Becker, co-founder of mCordis and The Connected Marketer Institute, it reminded me of our first podcast interview over five years ago. Then we talked about mobile marketing and powerful new wireless devices that would forever change human communications. He said “‘…mobile is the foundation of all communications going forward”–whatever the mobile […] The post Michael Becker Connected Marketer Institute Podcast appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Your new mobile app was just released to the app stores. You chew your fingernails. Lots of pressure from the boss. The company wants a big hit. You ask yourself: “Will the app be fast enough in the U.S., India?…Is mobile app acceleration across the network going to work? Sweat beads up on your forehead… […] The post Neumob’s Mobile App Acceleration – Jay Hinman Podcast appeared first on MobileBeyond.

The Ebola Care App, available free from Journey, a mobile applications developer, enables health workers to monitor and collect patient data in West South Africa. AppsAgainstEbola, Journey’s website, describes its genesis, capabilities and benefits. Running on inexpensive Android phones, the Ebola Care App will improve the timeliness, accuracy and accessibility of field data for health care decision-makers […] The post Ebola Care App Raises Hope in West Africa appeared first on MobileBeyond.

(Updated 5/9/2023) Like other podcast interviews and articles in this series, GCash Mobile money services, similar to others in African countries, the Mideast, Bangladesh, and India, are popular and growing quickly in developing countries. MobileBeyond’s financial technology posts and podcasts have documented that mobile money empowers the unbanked to send and receive money, top off phone […] The post GCash Mobile Money Services Help Filipinos Prosper appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Obopay India sits at a crossroads. Someone wrote that if mobile money players didn’t face the shackles of government banking regulations, the mobile money industry in India could generate $250 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS monthly. With a population of 1.3 billion people, 64% of whom are unbanked, and over 904 million mobile phones, the mobile financial services opportunity in India […] The post Obopay India Fights for 904 Million Mobile Customers appeared first on MobileBeyond.

As I spoke with Sanjiv Purushotham of MasterCard, I sensed his personal satisfaction working on MasterCard financial inclusion projects in Africa and the Mideast. He grew up in India, married, then took another MasterCard position in Singapore. A few years later, he jumped at another MasterCard opportunity in Dubai, one of the hot spots for entrepreneurs. Tall […] The post Mastercard Financial Inclusion Africa-Mideast appeared first on MobileBeyond.

bKash mobile money is also the story of Bangladesh, a war-torn country formed in 1971 after the Bangladesh Liberation War. But neither the horrors of that war–nor the poverty that enveloped the country since–has stopped the growth of mobile currency exchange. In fact, bKash is now the second largest mobile money company in the world by number […] The post bKash Mobile Money Growing in Bangladesh appeared first on MobileBeyond.

In a northern village of India, rural solar energy panels quietly produce clean energy, eliminating kerosene lamps that once polluted air and harmed health. Light bulbs shed their glow in the darkness of the night. Fans cool the hot, humid air. A light outside keeps children safe while chickens and cows produce income for families. […] The post Rural Solar Energy Lights India’s Future appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Are you an hourly worker paid 2-4 times a month? Then your employer is holding on to your wages waiting to give you your paycheck. Until payday, however, your company creates a “cash float” to pay its bills and maintain reserves.  Every company needs reserves–retailers, manufacturers and banks–especially small companies that don’t have high cash balances in accounts. […] The post Activehours CEO Says Employees Owed $2T appeared first on MobileBeyond.

People in Cambodia hear Wing mobile money vibrating on phones and cell towers everywhere. Anthony Perkins, Wing’s CEO and an ex-British guy, ponders and dreams about domestic and international money services. No, this is a fellow who’s not satisfied with mPESA-like mobile exchange. As developing nations move from financial exclusion to inclusion, Perkins believes that successful entrepreneurs […] The post Wing Mobile Money Sizzles on Cambodia Cell Phones appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Talking about Mobile Banking in South Africa with Brian Richardson of Wizzit reminds us that marketing a brand requires a consistent message. In that regard, you’ll find the Wizzit YouTube video below similar in content to the audio podcast interview. However, Brian and I branch into other areas, such as the impact of Apartheid on financial inclusion; even the possibility of a Google, […] The post Mobile Banking in South Africa – Brian Richardson of Wizzit appeared first on MobileBeyond.

In 2010, a few entrepreneurs in the United States contemplated a mobile financial inclusion solution for Kenya. A land of 10 million people, the majority of the Kenya’s adult population carried ATM-like M-PESA cards.  But less than half the population had bank accounts. And until recently merchants lacked terminals to process payments. This made M-PESA useless for millions […] The post Mobile Financial Inclusion Grows Kenyan Economy appeared first on MobileBeyond.

What if you could purchase life or health insurance free from your wireless carrier or bank as easy as buying a ring tone? This may be the ultimate insurance financial inclusion tool in Africa and elsewhere. Buy X mobile minutes or deposit Y money in your bank to obtain cost-free insurance. Customers can opt-in by […] The post Insurance Financial Inclusion Thrives in Africa with MicroEnsure appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Mobile device security and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) are hot growth sectors in the mobile industry. Dozens of vendors now offer numerous solutions to enterprise companies and SMB’s that prevent sensitive data from dripping into mobile devices. It’s challenging as podcast guest Ken Khouri of IBM Global Technology will tell you. When Apple announced […] The post Mobile Device Security in a BYOD Workforce appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Most people don’t want to throw away their credit, debit, discount, and other cards flooding their wallets and purses. People cling to these plastic icons like a crocodile holding its prey. What if you could use mobile merchant services instead? You can by using a smartphone. In our podcast interview, Shelley Plomske, VP of Product […] The post Mobile Merchant Services Improves Retail appeared first on MobileBeyond.

When Don Campbell talks about WordPress website themes, you feel there’s hope for small businesses on the Web. Don left Microsoft four years ago to start a slightly smaller company called Expand2Web. His popular SmallBiz Theme, running on WordPress,  puts to shame those $10,000 flashy “WOW!”websites that no one follows. WordPress Website Themes: Find a Niche […] The post WordPress Website Themes Democratize Small Business appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Speech voice recognition has progressed beyond talking elevators and primitive computer text-to-speech and recognition. Early personal computer dictation software started melting like Verizon flip phones. That gave Paul Macarelli, the “can you hear me now” Verizon guy, new television scripts. Many years later, Apple introduced its Mountain Lion Mac operating system with improved voice dictation […] The post Voice Recognition Makes Home Appliances Listen appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Like Farmville customer service? Having avoided Farmville for two months, I must tell you how delighted I feel this week. Zynga and its caring public service team reached out to me. Here’s the first email from the company’s VP of Player Advocacy and Service: “Hello Brian, We noticed that your Farmville game has been quiet for some […] The post Farmville Customer Service Gives TLC appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Some people think mobile ads are intrusive, apps for laggards, tablets are toys and Android Ice Cream Sandwich a silly name tied to Android OS. (That’s assuming they know Android refers to a smartphone operating system and not Data on Star Trek.) These folks are technophobes. But they’ve probably  never met Joy Liuzzo, mobile researcher […] The post Mobile Ads + Tablets + Ice Cream Sandwich + Carriers Vie for Money appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Speaking with Mark Strecker and Gabi Schindler about Amobee mobile advertising is both exciting and worrisome. On one hand, new forms of media fill our digital and mobile devices as demand rises in developed and emerging markets. The quality of content varies, but consumers indeed have substantial news, sports and entertainment programs available. In fact, people […] The post Amobee Mobile Advertising Adapts to Roller Coaster Industry appeared first on MobileBeyond.

  Welcome to Mobile World Congress Virtual Reality coverage on MobileBeyond. Rather than flying to Barcelona, Spain from California, I’ve set up interviews with mobile execs at MWC. So we’re nine hours apart but the distance closes to 15-30 minutes delayed coverage. Unlike a newspaper, magazine, digital media can change “static” reality into “dynamic” reality. […] The post Mobile World Congress Virtual Reality Coverage appeared first on MobileBeyond.

  Tablet computer screen sizes offer more consumer choices When Steve Jobs said the best size for a tablet computer screen (i.e. iPad) was 9.7″, all the bright manufacturers, especially Samsung, turned their noses up. Secretly, Amazon did the same with the Kindle Fire. Gotcha, Apple, we’ll make smaller screens for consumers who want them. Heard through the […] The post Tablet Computer Screen Sizes Befuddle Consumers appeared first on MobileBeyond.

As an over-stressed business person–perhaps a 16 hour a day entrepreneur–mobile website design and hosting are probably low on your totem pole. But your business depends greatly on adopting mobile best practices, including launching a mobile site. Everyone’s talking about the mobile Web. Everywhere you go, people pop out smartphones and tablets. Mobile users view […] The post Mobile Website Design & Hosting Boost Local Commerce appeared first on MobileBeyond.

125,000 Vegas CES attendees invading desert town for a sizzling electronics show.  Each person, emitting 100 watts, like light globes, crushing Vegas’s AC  system, 1.3 BILLION watts raising the heat. TVs, computers, smartphones, and other gadgets draining juice.  AC maxing out at Las Vegas Convention Center. CES heat won’t melt cell towers and mobile gear. Root […] The post Vegas CES Heating Up City – Retrevo’s Andrew Eisner Podcast appeared first on MobileBeyond.

How would you like a free Facebook phone? Did you know Truphone built an app for one in 2007? How about a mobile phone signed by Mark Zuckerberg? Would you pay $1 a year for a Facebook phone? Perhaps free Groupon coupons would get your credit card out of your wallet? Free Facebook Phone Idea […] The post Free Facebook Phone from the Media? appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Paper books or e-books? Which is better? Several months ago, I visited Santa Cruz, a small coastal community south of the San Francisco Bay Area. As I sauntered past a Catholic Church having a rummage sale, I stopped to look at the hard-cover paper books. I found a copy of Dale Carnegie‘s “How to Stop […] The post Paper Books vs. e-Books In Our Universe appeared first on MobileBeyond.

The year is 2036 and media content has exploded in a 5G wireless world.  I insert a memory chip into your right index finger that connects along the median nerve to my brain’s neocortex. I peruse the ancient writings of a blogger, writing about media content in 2010. I become fascinated with the story as […] The post Media Content Explodes says 5G Wireless Blogger appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Feeling right with my smartphone. O.K., honey, I bought you. Even paid $300 because I wanted you to have more memory. You glow, move quickly and smoothly, side-by-side with me 24/7. Yeah…I got rid of the other one in my life. You’re mine baby. No, this isn’t a quote from an erotic novel for reading […] The post Feeling Right with My Smartphone After the Sale appeared first on MobileBeyond.

  What’s the future of mobile media publishing? As digital newspapers and magazines switch to the Web–especially using mobile apps–publishers must change mobile media copywriting strategies. This includes New York Times digital and mobile publications. I was an early adopter of the New York Times iPad version. But I found its iOS app inferior to the Wall […] The post Future Mobile Media Newspaper Publishing appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Have lots of social media mobile devices? You’re ready to take a vacation. (Don’t miss the dramatized podcast.) Picture this. You’re relaxing under a beach umbrella with a gorgeous view of the ocean, your kids happily playing in the water, your spouse enjoying beach volleyball. And you? Well, you’re happy as a clam reading your iPad, […] The post Take a Vacation with Social Media Mobile Devices appeared first on MobileBeyond.

What would Walter Cronkite say about mobile world news if he were still alive? In his parting television interview on CBS, Walter Cronkite bemoaned the 30 minute newscast and how only another ten minutes would provide greater context to television news and information. (Actually, his 30 minute evening program, watched by millions, was only 23 […] The post Mobile World News After Walter Cronkite appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Well, who said  mobile app store growth would become a fight between iOS and Android?  As it turns out Samsung, a sleepy Asian giant, now Apple’s threatened lawsuit against GetJar, calling itself a mobile “app store,” demonstrates Apple’s delusional grandeur to dominate mobile, media, entertainment and other industries it fancies. That Apple’s lawyers in the suit would suggest […] The post Mobile App Store Growth and Developers Expanding Rapidly appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Now that you’ve protected your personal computer with antivirus software, it’s time to zap those mobile electronic bugs before they invade your smartphone. Here’s a list of the top ten 2012  mobile antivirus software products. Tony Anscombe, who has the auspicious title of “Ambassador of Free Products” at AVG,  says Android phones, in particular, need […] The post Mobile AntiVirus Software from AVG Keeps You Safe appeared first on MobileBeyond.

 The perfect mobile device. Ah, where is it? How do I find  it? Walked around the mall today, stopped by the Sprint store to check out the crowd, expertly playing with smartphones. Sauntered over to the Verizon booth, two guys, talking, laughing, no customers in sight. The T-Mobile store was quiet like a funeral home. No Most mobolites–that’s […] The post Perfect Mobile Device at a Mall with the Mobolites appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Tom Conrad Discusses Pandora Internet Radio In May, 2009, Tom Conrad, CTO of Pandora Internet Radio appeared on MobileBeyond in a “behind the scenes” audio interview. Recently, Pandora went public on the New York Stock Exchange and now has an valuation of $4 billion dollars. Over the years–first with personal computers, later mobile phones, Pandora […] The post Updated Pandora Internet Radio Talk with Tom Conrad appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Nicolie Pangis, a Senior Vice President at 24/7 Real Media, wrote a provocative article in Click Z called “What Multitasking Consumers Mean for Marketers.” She argues, unlike popular belief, that new media don’t necessarily destroy the old. People simply adapt to media multitasking. A good example is a teenager listening to music on an iPod, while […] The post Media Multitasking Changing People’s Ability to Cope? appeared first on MobileBeyond.

We take a lot of things for granted? Like mobile website designs. If you awakened one morning, turned on your smartphone and none of your apps worked, what would you do? Would you stare at a blank dark screen and only make phone calls? Or would you hit the browser button taking you to a […] The post Mobile Website Designs at Trilibis with Ted Verani appeared first on MobileBeyond.

The Sprint Samsung Nexus S Story Like many of you, I upgraded to a Samsung Nexus S a few days ago. Then I spent time today with the Sprint Community and Google Samsung Nexus S forum folks online. Lots of chat about weak RF signals. So I Googled around the Web and found mostly praise for […] The post Samsung Nexus S Signal Issues Irk Customers appeared first on MobileBeyond.

What do you do when you’re part of a social network company with 100 million members in 200 countries who love to get tagged? Steve Sarner, VP of Marketing at Tagged.com, is working on that challenge right now. Oh, by the way, he’d loved the firm to generate $100 million in revenue. Not bad for […] The post Get Tagged with Steve Sarner at Tagged.Com appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Have you ever been to a party or other social event where you’re talking excitedly with someone who has no interest in mobile technology? You’re bubbling over like warm champagne shooting out of a bottle on New Year’s Eve, while you start feeling “hey, this nerd couldn’t care less about technology. “I’m a mobile geek; […] The post Are Mobile Geeks and Technophobes Apathetic About Technology? appeared first on MobileBeyond.

New media marketing is making newspaper marketers scratch their head. But why is it so difficult to understand how Internet surfers use the Web for news and information? While searching through my Google News page this morning, I clicked on “mobile Internet devices” and an interesting article on Cloud Computing getting clobbered by regulators popped up. Here’s […] The post New Media Marketing Challenges Dallas News appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Do you think people suffer from technology dependence? Has Silicon Valley planted viruses in electronic devices making us dependent on what it produces? Like a perpetual illness, are we so dependent on technology that living without continuous digital change our brains would wither? Technology is miraculous and wonderful when it performs well. If your computer, smartphone, […] The post Technology Dependence – An Illness in Disguise? appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Mobile Cloud Computing is taking the world by storm as desktop computers fade into oblivion. Steve Ballmer of Microsoft, speaking at the Gartner Symposium last October 2010, “hinted,” as EWeek wrote, those Windows smartphones were just like desktops and laptops. In other words, these powerful new mobile devices are only miniatures of bigger gadgets, like […] The post Mobile Cloud Computing Likes Dumb Smartphones appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Things are heating up in Washington. No, it’s not reconciling a one trillion plus budget before the government shuts down. It’s consumer mobile privacy and Pandora Media, the Internet radio company that’s going public with an IPO. According to the LA Times, a federal grand jury would like to talk with Pandora about personal data sharing, […] The post Mobile Privacy Hits Pandora Again as Smartphone Sales Soar appeared first on MobileBeyond.

(Updated 4/20/2023) TED –founded in 1984–has become the most coveted video stage in the digital content revolution.  Thousands of speakers, coached by the TED staff, share their ideas in front of large audiences, while the videos frequently go viral and are viewed by millions of people.  If you’re unfamiliar with this extraordinary worldwide organization, TED […] The post TED Videos Driving Digital Content Revolution appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Jay Hinman talks about Video Streaming Services When I interviewed Tricia Higgins at  MobiTV about its live video streaming services last year, the company had 10 million customers. That’s grown to over 15 million with no end in sight. Through its carrier partners–AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile–other broadband services like AT&T U-Verse and content producers,  MobiTV […] The post Video Streaming Services from MobiTV appeared first on MobileBeyond.

Everyone’s talking about tablets. Will the iPad 2 gobble up 80% market share? Apple freaks tweet, post and talk like Steve Jobs: “The iPad is ‘magical, incredible.'” Android-based tablets, like the Samsung Tab, are growing as fast as rabbits in heat. But I think mobile phones are much cooler than tablet computers. Believe me I’m […] The post Mobile Phones Cooler than Tablet Computers appeared first on MobileBeyond.

When you listen to the podcast interview intro and end about mobile speech,  don’t think I’ve changed genders. It’s iSpeech’s voice technology (speech recognition and text-to-speech)  introducing my interview with Yaron Oren, the company’s CMO. DriveSafe.ly is available for iPhone, Android, Windows, and BlackBerry smartphones. Download the app online. The Apple version is also available […] The post Mobile Speech Making Texting Safer appeared first on MobileBeyond.