Siri? Seriously.
Apple has a knack of packaging something old and imperfect and make it look like God’s gift to human kind. Kudos for that! Iris popped up from nowhere and all of a sudden it is a Android vs iOS face-off.
The real question is, which of them is going to be the next Microsoft… and the next Apple.
Patent woes for iCLoud
When news broke about Google buying out Motorola, I was stunned. After working with Motorola in Europe for a couple of years, they don’t seem like a company that would fit into Google offices.
But on second thoughts and recent news, a brilliant move!
By taking in the old engineers, Google has apparently stopped Apple from selling products using their iCloud services in Germany, via a patent of Moto. Read original article on Gizmodo>
Back at the end of 2010, ReadWriteWeb posted one of the more influential articles of this year, stating five key trends for 2011.
Location-based Social Networks were one of them, this is sort of a validating post. Stats are for the US, refer at you own risk. (Original article from ReadWriteWeb)
Source: ReadWriteWeb
Building the cloud
If you are using an Android phone (or more recently an iPhone), you are familiar with worry-free phone backup, restore and apps that let you access your stuff from any device. Mobile access to internet, higher access speeds, multiple devices, easy downloading are all contributing factors to the rise of the cloud service.
A good cloud service need a view on the following:
- Don’t just use the web UI as a starting template, build an adaptive UI for all access points.
- Choose your platforms well, established distribution channels like Android Market and AppStore gives good leverage for distribution and download.
- Make multiple device access easy: super simple interfaces accessing a totally separate application layer, ensures a robust API base for device and platform interfacing.
- Hold on to all your customer service fundamentals, over all access devices and locations.
- It is all about the user. A simple, objective-oriented user experience is paramount. This goes for voice control, motion gestural, touch and many other interfaces if needed.
- Prepare for multi-language and global access.
PayPal & NFC
PayPal recently issued an app that allows NFC enabled phones to pay each other via PayPal. This offers ample learning for them if they eventually decide to move to a full fledge NFC solution – enabling payment clearance through telcos or directly through PayPal.
Point to note is the official tone from PayPal for this release has been ‘Hey, why not?’ and did not fully commit to a NFC future.
PayPal does not make money from the current P2P payments through the app.
The digital ecosystem of a credit card
Seems like Amex is figuring out how to transit into a device centric digital landscape, aren’t we all.
However Amex recently stated they plan on investing USD100 million on a digital ecosystem, putting money behind the talk. Intentionally vague scope mentioned include NFC payments, cloud based services (can include anything from CRM and marketing communications). Understandably for a behemoth like Amex to undergo such a big shift, it will take a considerable period of time. Gutsy compared to PayPal.
Note to make here is there is a rather strong indication that Amex is planning to phase out the card.
Yammer's slamming overhaul
Developing a suite of programs, apps or business solutions from ground up? This is quite literally piss talk nowadays, given development time for any of the above mentioned can take anywhere up to 6-18 months to design and build.
Recently a corporate microblogging tool Yammer, partnered up with 6 separate software developers to integrate their respective services. Hence in one fell swoop, extended their business offering 6-fold, to offer instant content, functionality and cloud storage.
Collabs rule!
A very interesting infographic about e-commerce. Source www.invesp.com
Source: www.invesp.com
This is really up in the air. I’ve read multiple and entertaining articles debating either yes or no.
However, chew on this in the meantime:
As and when tablets break from its home/personal entertainment focus and crossover into business applications and corporate use, like many products before it – Windows PCs, Blackberry phones etc. We will then truly mourn the passing of the laptop notebook.
A Portfolio.com survey indicates that 70% of Small and Medium Business (SMBs) in the US uses mobile devices (mobile phones, WiFi enabled laptops etc.) and communication for work outside the office. 88% of this communication involves social media networks like Facebook and Twitter. Interestingly, companies with higher mobility under the survey, have consistently higher revenue.
Sorry no pretty charts on this. Read more>
