Text revision service launched for pupils.
"Since Easter, Year 11 pupils have been able to message teachers from home with revision queries and get a text answer", report The BBC.
"To protect teachers' private mobile numbers and to keep a record of the questions and answers for other students to reference, pupils' texts - which they have to pay for - are sent to a special web page.
These queries are monitored by the mentors who can then respond through the website."
GSM mobile users: 2 billion.
The GSM association reports that there are now 2 billion GSM mobile phone users, based on Q2 market forecasts. They comment that "new users are signing up at the rate of 1,000 per minute (just under 18 per second) to services that include both second generation GSM, as well as third generation 3GSM services - for which there are already more than 72 million users in the world."
BlackBerry target more users.
ComputerWeekly: RIM, with O2, have launched
a new BlackBerry device (the 7130g) aimed at the small business sector. "For SMBs, RIM also offers a BlackBerry internet service which allows users to access multiple business and personal email accounts without the need for server software, which includes support for most popular ISP email accounts."
In the US, Cingular are offering the US version of the handset with a "consumer" pricing option from US$29.99/month.
Ease of use could boost data revenues.
The headline of Some Cell Phone Owners Spurn Gadgetry gives a story of user frustration with overly-complex handsets. The interesting part of the story is the greater need for emphasis on usability. As Michael Coffey of Sprint puts it: "We believe there's a strong correlation between our standard of success and how usable the products are".
The article is downbeat on the usability efforts of the major networks. "Some analysts pointed to phones from niche providers, such as youth-oriented Amp'd Mobile and sports-centric ESPN Mobile, as good examples of intuitive design, marrying easy-to-understand menus with pared-down lists of content aimed at their particular markets."
NYC: school mobile ban being resisted.
The BBC report on a "growing revolt" in New York City against a ban on mobile phones in schools. The major's position is that "schools are for learning, and these devices are diversions from learning", whereas parents argue "a mobile phone is an essential part of urban family life".
"All sides say that if software could be introduced that shuts down reception in school areas during the day, everyone would be happy."
Virgin offers ad-subsidized calls; Nokia offer diamond studded handsets.
Virgin Mobile USA are going to send customers adverts they need to read and respond to in order to earn free calls. Customers "can get up to 75 minutes of free calls per month if they spend an equal amount of time looking at ads and replying to these ads via text messages." Pepsi and Xbox are among the first advertisers. Critics wonder how well the service will perform given the low cost of calls.
(eWeek)
At the other end of the scale, eWeek also report that Nokia's Luxury Brand Vertu Says [it is] Expanding Rapidly. "Vertu, the luxury brand of mobile maker Nokia, is growing fast as a result partly of geographic expansion and plans to launch in the Nordic countries and Japan". Vertu sell handsets which "include models studded with diamonds that cost thousands of dollars".
Mobile TV: DVB-H good for commuters; exclusive content appears.
Our experience of IP mobile TV is that it's not great for commuters. But O2 have been testing a broadcast solution based on a separate part of the digital radio spectrum (DVB-H), and that has been a success with commuters. As reported in The Guardian, "85% of O2's triallists said they were satisfied or more than satisfied with it" with "37% of usage was recorded during the daily commute".
In terms of content,
The BBC report that Sugababes will film made-for-mobile reality TV shows. "The trio will film a backstage video diary using their own handsets as they join Robbie Williams on tour." The six-week series will contain daily episodes costing GBP 0.50 each. "The new concept is the brainchild of Big Brother producer Endemol in partnership with O2 and Universal Music."
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