ABI: Five Billion Mobile Users Worldwide by Mark Walsh

A new study by ABI Research today confirms that mobile subscriptions worldwide passed the 5 billion mark in the second quarter. The crossing of that dramatic threshold had been predicted earlier in the year, and Ericsson estimated the 5 billion mark was reached in July. ...Read the whole story

  • Subscriber Gains Underscore iPhone's Importance To AT&T by Mark Walsh

    The record 5.2 million iPhones that AT&T reported activating in the third quarter only highlighted the company's reliance on the Apple smartphone as it faces losing exclusive distribution of the device next year. ...Read the whole story

  • Greystripe 4Q Figures Show Growing Demand For Mobile Advertising by Mark Walsh

    Mobile ad network Greystripe has been one of the indirect beneficiaries of Apple's iAd launch earlier this year. To provide some insight on growing demand for mobile advertising, Greystripe today released some figures comparing its business now to a year ago. The company is forecasting fourth-quarter bookings showing a 600% increase from the year-earlier period. Retail, automotive, and consumer packaged goods brands lead the way when it comes to embracing mobile. ...Read the whole story

Reality-Checking The IAds by Steve Smith

I still am not convinced that the iAds are that compelling a model for mobile advertising. I understand from anecdotes and press reports that some of the brand advertisers are very pleased with the performance they are seeing from the iAds. But what else are you going to say after ponying up a few million and handing creative control over your message to a third party? As a consumer, I know I am tapping on iAds now just to see what is there, not because the call to action is especially strong. Novelty is not a foundation for sustained performance. ...More

  • Top 10 Privacy Lessons Mobile And TV Can Learn From The Web by Dave Morgan

    The Web is learning privacy lessons the hard way: making mistakes, taking heat from the press, regulators and the public, and then retroactively fixing those mistakes. Today, both the mobile and TV industries are just starting to embark on targeted advertising. Both could learn some valuable privacy lessons from the Web industry's experiences. Here are my top 10: ...More

  • Ode To An Ipad by Gord Hotchkiss

    I really had no idea how much I'd love my iPad. I have to say that it's now my preferred connection to the online world. Somehow, whether by design or coincidence, Apple has tapped into something primal and intuitive in myself. Judging from other iPad owners I've talked to, I suspect I'm not alone. There is a magical thing happening between me and this sleek little device. And whatever it is, it's important, even prescient. This, I suspect, is our future sitting in our laps. ...More

  • Worth The Trip? In Mobile, Speed is Everything by Steve Smith

    When users navigate apps and the mobile Web they seem to have a memory of the sites that deliver information efficiently and the ones that don't. I am not sure where we spare the memory brain cells for this sort of thing, but somehow many of us recall that clicking on a link at this site is going to produce a long lag, while others have cached the experience wisely to smooth out the end user effect. I know that I think before I click on many apps and sites and wonder, 'is it worth the trip?' ...More