Smartphone adoption in leading European markets, including the UK, has now topped 60 million, and predictions forcast that by 2013 smartphones will overtake PCs as the dominant web access service. This burgeoning market presents huge opportunities for businesses to maintain contact with consumers 24/7 and influence purchase decisions in ways never before thought possible.
Smartphone News
The GSMA today announced that it is now accepting entries for its Brand App Challenge, a competition in which mobile application developers create “brand apps” for a select group of global consumer brands. Winners will be named at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, which will be held 14-17 February, 2011 in Barcelona.
IDC today announced the results of a new survey revealing that mobile shopping "warriors" (hyper-connected individuals) and mobile shopping "warrior wannabies" (moderately connected individuals) will account for 28% or $127 billion of the $447 billion the National Retail Federation (NRF) predicts U.S. consumers will spend this holiday season.
Apple announced that Dr. Ronald D. Sugar, former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Northrop Grumman Corporation, was appointed to Apple’s Board of Directors. He will serve as the Chair of the Audit and Finance Committee.
Apple announced it will expand its iAd mobile advertising network to the UK and France this December, with Germany to follow in January. According to research firm IDC, iAd has signed on over half of the top 25 leading US national advertisers in just four months.
AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless have announced the formation of a joint venture chartered with building ISIS, a national mobile commerce network that aims to "fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save."
Sofialys, France-based mobile advertising and marketing specialist has announced that it is renewing its mobile marketing collaboration with one of the TUI group’s French brands, Marmara. The two companies have been working together for 2 years in order to develop a "highly effective mobile marketing strategy and innovative operations."
T-Mobile’s move to offer tiered pricing based on bandwidth usage represents the latest development in the wireless industry’s attempt to cash in on exploding demand for mobile data demand, according to iSuppli. Global mobile data traffic is expected to nearly double each year through 2014.
In Q3 2010, the worldwide smartphone market grew an impressive 95% over the same quarter a year ago to 80.9 million shipped units, according to Canalys. Nokia retained its leadership position, albeit by a diminished margin, with a 33% share of the market. Apple’s healthy performance this quarter saw it achieve a 17% share worldwide, a little ahead of RIM, which held a 15% share this quarter.
Clearwire and Sprint today announced plans to launch their respective 4G mobile internet services in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco later this year. Each of the companies will offer 4G services under their own 4G brand.