LocalMobileSearch

Puddingmedia to Test Privacy/Frugality Trade-off

A Silicon Valley startup, Puddingmedia, is poised to test how large a market it can build for individuals who will allow the company to "mine" its phone conversations in order to serve relevant advertisements. Called ThePudding, it takes surveillance-based marketing to the phone channel channel in a new way. It is tangibly different from "voice search" (a la GOOG411 or Tellme Business), free DA (Jingle Networks) or ad-supported mobile 411 (like V-Enable). In those use-cases, callers are already searching for specific businesses or categories of business and they are offering for a phone based transaction that costs an average of $1.80.

ThePudding is pure VoIP-based phone calls which cost only pennies per minute and it is unclear whether cost avoidance will prove to be adequate incentive to have a media company listen in on private (er, not so private) phone calls. There may be a "serendipity factor" at play which a caller may receive an unexpected, but highly relevant, promotional message. But it is bound to be a slow burn in terms of audience building. Prospective users can enroll on the company's Web site, the pudding.

Business Attitudes toward Online Marketing and Web 2.0

Featured Research is available to registered users only.

For more information on becoming an I2G client, please contact Pete Headrick (pheadrick@opusresearch.net).

RESEARCH: Business Attitudes toward Online Marketing and Web 2.0

In early August, Local Mobile Search conducted a survey of small businesses in conjunction with AllBusiness.com to gauge the level of awareness and acceptance of online marketing options compared with more traditional local media. As described in this report, small businesses have embraced the Web, including elements of Web 2.0, but still face many challenges and barriers standing between them and the options that accompany higher-speed, peer-to-peer communications and social networking.

Reports & advisories are available to registered LMS users only.

Non-Clients - Click Here to View the Report Summary

[protect]Registered LMS Clients - Click Here to View the Full Report[/protect]

Nokia's New UMA Phone a Taste of the Future

Nokia's new 6301 handset is designed to work on so-called unlicensed mobile networks (WiFi) as well as operator networks. It's the second such phone from the handset giant. The Nokia phone will switch between networks automatically, without any intervention from users. It will cost $322 (230 Euros). From the press release:

With UMA technology, the consumer can use the GSM network or a broadband Internet-connected WLAN network for mobile services. This can ensure excellent indoor coverage both at office and home. The consumer can have one multi-mode handset that works everywhere with enhanced and easy-to-use voice services. And, WLAN/UMA provides excellent coverage and sound quality, even in areas where mobile phone reception has previously been poor.

And to those operators who feel threatened by the move:

With UMA technology, the Nokia 6301 benefits operators as well, allowing them to deliver voice and data services to subscribers over WLAN, substantially increasing mobile service availability while decreasing the costs related to network deployment.

The iPhone is a version of this. Expect more such phones in the future from more handset makers.

Consumers will eventually demand a single phone that can be used at home or on the go. More and more consumer in the US are choosing mobile phones as primary phones. Wireless phones have outnumbered landlines in the US since last year.

In Europe, Nokia has built a local content initiative, via partnerships with directory publishers, and has launched an ad network, bolstered by recently announced intention to acquire the mobile ad firm Enpocket. In the US, however, the handset maker is in a very different position today vis-a-vis the gatekeeper role of carriers, which can (and will) thwart its content and ad initiatives.

I Wonder Who Buys Outdoor for GOOG411

There have been a number of billboard spottings for GOOG411 in obscure venues, like Olean, NY, as reported in Mike Blumenthal's blog. Outdoor advertising is clearly part of the mix for efforts to build traffic on the automated DA service and Google is using it across all manner of population densities. There's even one on Third Street in San Francisco, just south of AT&T Park, where the Giants are languishing in last place in the National League West.

Bullish on Mobile Search

Clearly we believe Local Mobile Search and mobile search more generally have a bright future. But here's a lengthly and detailed article from Ask's Gary Price on mobile search. It includes a good discussion of Map and Local business information.

Wavemarket is behind the Ask Mobile application.

GPhone Today? Yes, No, Maybe? And iPhone UK

I was speaking to a reporter yesterday who suggested that the rumored GPhone, whatever it might actually turn out to be, was going to be announced today. Dan Miller wrote up a client-only advisory on the improbability of a proprietary hardware device (vs. software).

But we'll see what happens . . . Here's Engadget saying yes regarding a Google branded handset.

Meanwhile, the iPhone now officially rolls out in Europe (UK) under the carrier banner of O2. Here's more detail on the announcement from TechCrunch. Apparently there will be better European WiFi coverage/support for the iPhone (via a partnership with The Cloud [too bad it isn't called "Le Cloud"]) so the experience will probably be better than what US users are dealing with.

However The Street reports that a faster (3G) iPhone is coming next year to the US market.

Google Nixes GPhone: Clarifying Mobile Search's Value Chain

Featured Research is available to registered users only.

For more information on becoming an I2G client, please contact Pete Headrick (pheadrick@opusresearch.net).