apps

Nov. 30th: Mobile App Economy Roundtable

Novembers roundtable is focusing on “Mobile App Economy” in which we will discuss the shifts in the Mobile App ecosystem such as the race to build a better smartphone, ways that legacy device manufacturers (like Nokia) are catching up, new advertising models, etc.

Can Anyone catch up to Apple and is the Android platform going to continue to grow or will it plateau? What about Blackberry, Nokia and yes even Palm where do they fit in all of this.

These topics and more will be discussed at the roundtable.

Participants Include:

Appsolute Media-Jon Kobrin, CMO
Mobiworx-David Hobeich, Founder & CEO
NeedAnApp-Antoine Trepant, Founder
Two Toasters-Rachit Shukla, CEO
Sonic Mobile-Jay Block, VP Business Development
Applico-Alex Moazed, CEO
Zip Mark-Jay Bhattacharya, Co-founder
MRM Worldwide, Louis Simeonidis, VP Digital & Tecnology Strategy
Fusion Creative Studios- Pablo Arenas, CEO
Mojiva-David Gowdz, CEO
Nokia-Pete Dragunas, Head World Wide Sales

The goal of the roundtable is to bring startups along with VC’s, angels, and industry experts to network, discuss, and help startups grow and succeed.

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PLUGGEDIN – MOBILE APPS – FOLLOW UP THOUGHTS

October 7, 2010
Comments by Guillermo Kopp / @GuillermoKopp
Chairman, GUAU Corporation / gk @ guauco.com

Participants Included: eyeDip, WorldLiveMobile, Toura, MEDL Mobile, Appsolute Media, Fox Mobile, Time Inc., WSJ, MTV, Sony Music, Turner Broadcasting, and Thomson Rueters.

1. Valued experience: A mobile device works as an extension of the person. It goes with the person and stays connected. Apps perform original functions, including location. Most of the top apps are games.

Comment: Smart apps should render better interactive experiences that are more creative, engaging, functional, social, utilitarian, and save time. We think that developers need to focus on producing groundbreaking content that will elevate popular apps as a pivotal consumer touch point.

2. Augmented reality: Apps should tap device features such as location, vibration, and video. When used to pull related data while watching television or sports events, apps will enhance the user experience.

Comment: We believe that games and enriched sports data will fulfill a most compelling role in engaging consumers. Brands and app developers should harness vast amounts of data that are available through the cloud platform, and integrate information seamlessly and timely into the live flow of events.

3. Business model: What is the core value proposition attached to mobile apps? Rather than advancing technologies that look for a viable use, apps must focus on solving actual business issues.

Comment: Consumers drive a lot of digital media usage that still has to be monetized. Besides charging competitive prices for premium mobile content, brands need to work holistically. Extra revenues from commissions and subscriptions from other platforms will support the case for mobile.

4. Usage: Consumers spend twice the time using mobile apps than browsing the mobile web. Phones are getting more powerful. There are too many apps and online information. It is hard to build critical mass.

Comment: To entice sustained use, apps must fulfill a productive purpose and have a reasonable lifespan. Successful apps that deliver practical value and connect to specific audiences will serve as a primary touch point. Successive generations of apps will upgrade the core functions and features.

5. Evolution: Apps are just a new form in the changing digital landscape. Media companies should employ apps as part of a multifaceted portfolio. Fragmentation of platforms results in duplicative cost.

Comment: We believe that carriers will continue to wield power in the mobile ecosystem, and will influence the consolidation and distribution of mobile app sources. Revenues from mobile usage should be less dependent on carrier models and focus more on the value of the services delivered.

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PLUGGEDIN MOBILE APP ROUNDTABLE COMMENTARY

April 22, 2010

Comments by Guillermo Kopp / @GuillermoKopp

PLUGGED IN MOBILE APP ROUNDTABLE – COMMENTARY

1. Strategic Vision: Strong consumer adoption of selected mobile apps must lead to sustainable business models. As pervasive mobile interactions measure up to the trillions, every cent will count.

 Comment: We envision a strategic shift in the business models of media companies. Revenues will combine monetized value, as afforded by consumers, with a broader value of corporate purpose. Savvy companies will advertise and sell dynamically and more effectively to a captive mobile audience.

2. Advanced Features: Smarter mobile devices will integrate location information, rich media, and video. Live media will give rise to a new breed of “always on” interactive apps embedded in consumer lifestyles.

 Comment: We believe that improving the consumer experience will be decisive. Creative apps and social games will tap behavioral segmentation, coupled with real-time and background streaming of personalized video content to engage consumers in more constant and gratifying ways.

3. Pervasive Data: Social media and crowd-sourcing will reaffirm the role of mobile devices for personal participation and control. Data management will straddle corporate, cloud, and mobile platforms.

 Comment: We see a multifaceted explosion of granular and time-sensitive mobile data. Advanced apps will tap dynamic mining and pattern recognition of billions of customer events to deliver more sophisticated functions that capitalize on both centralized and distributed information.

4. An Apple a Day: Building on the iTunes model, the success of iPhone apps has given Apple a temporary edge. Innovative features should help competitors attain an “apples to apples” comparison.

 Comment: We think that in the long run, apps will need to suit multiple platforms. Meanwhile, Apple competitors must invest in a vibrant ecosystem of apps developers to “keep the doctor away” and jump ahead by delivering creative value in media consumption and lifestyle usage.

5. Pirates From Beyond the Caribbean: Digitalization will erode traditional media and advertising revenue. Commercial content will face public access to the Web and rampant piracy of digital media.

 Comment: We acknowledge Apple’s control of the apps and digital content through iTunes. The proliferation of published and public digital media will increase the burden of control, so companies should derive new revenues from the immediacy and personalization of supplementary content.

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April 22: Mobile Apps Roundtable

April’s Roundtable is focsuing on “Mobile Apps” and the new ecosystem that has been created with smartphones. Ranging from the most popular iPhone to Android and Blackberry mobile apps are more popular and essential to big companies. How are they created, how do they make money, how do they market themselves.

Rhino Mobile: Combining a revolutionary digital distribution engine with a unique service structure that unites advertisers, programmers and developers under a single label, Rhino Mobile is poised to take its place at the forefront of the rapidly expanding mobile marketing industry. With an ever-growing user base and unparalleled access to consumers through our patent-pending software, Rhino Mobile can specifically custom tailor a campaign to reach any area, any market, any individual with the click of a button.

Attending: Pablo Arenas

CrunchBase Information on Rhino Mobile

Rhino Mobile