HANDSETS
Touchscreens getting big for Asian market [IntoMobile]
As mentioned in yesterday’s post, Japan is really getting into touchscreens. This is backed up ina new report from ABI: “Because it’s difficult to represent even a fraction of the common Asian characters on a QWERTY-style keyboard, touch screen devices on which characters can be written with a stylus are immensely popular. The Asia/Pacific market consumed more than 80% of the world’s touch screen-based mobile phone production over the past year.”
AUTO
NearU Search helps consumers save at the pump [Mobile Marketer]
Last month, we speculated that a new site called Gasbuddy should go mobile. Now they have, thanks to NearU. By texting the ambiguous shortcode “Gaspass” to 63278, you can get local, real-time gasoline price alerts on your phone. For $7.99 you can search nearby stations. (You also get to say, “I am going to Gaspass”.)
PS- For more auto-mobile fun, check out AAA Mobile: it has turn-by-turn navigation, live traffic alerts, weather forecasts, travel information, local movies and showtimes, as well as gas price search.
CULTURE
I’m So Totally, Digitally Close to You [New York Times]
In his survey of “ambient awareness,” journalist Clive Thomson answers the eternal question: “Why would anyone Twitter?” Well for one, it gives you E.S.P. It also lets you be more connected socially, albeit with weak ties. Most of all, it makes you more self-aware. Great article, bad title. May we suggest: “Update: Twitter is the new yoga!”
MUSIC
Musinaut: a New Era in Music Interaction [PFSK]
Musinaut claims it will revolutionize music by making it interactive, and we just might agree. Their Skinvaders software lets artists “accessorize” their songs with added rich content (varied musical interpretations, remixes or styles called “skins”). Using the MXP4 player, listeners can opt for never-before-heard versions that are randomly selected each time a piece is played. And hey, its available for mobile phones.
Snow Patrol and Apple Aim for the Skies [MusicWeek]
Pop rockers Snow Patrol are making history by releasing an interactive album as an iPhone app. It will enable fans to access extra content including artwork, behind-the-scenes images and lyrics via the touch screen of their handsets.
‘Popcuts’ music site pays hipsters for buying cool music first [USA Today]
Essentially Sellaband for songs, this new music promotional tool pays mp3 buyers a cut of its future sales. The earlier you buy a future hit, the more you get. It’s a great example of what we can call the Influence Economy–or maybe it will just prove the Cumulative Advantage theory.
Sony Ericsson next to jump on the unlimited downloads bandwagon [Shiny Shiny]
Following in Nokia’s footsteps, Sony Ericsson now “comes with music” as well, adopting a subscription-based music models for their mobile phones. Its a bandwagon alright, but only time will tell if enough consumers jump on.
VIDEO
@ CTIA: MTV Launches First Mobile Ad-Supported VOD Service With Carriers [mocoNews.net]
MTV will soon be launching its first mobile video-on-demand service, which will be supported by ads. Smart move considering music videos are the #1 type of content teens watch on their phones.
FOX Interactive: With Mobile Video, It’s Gotta Be Live [New TeeVee]
According to Fox, live video is where it’s at when it comes to the mobile video audience. Makes sense, but bear in mind, this is coming from a proud purveyor of news and sports.
Straight To Mobile: Verizon Shows WB.com’s ‘Sorority Forever’ [MediaPost]
The Frog is just jumping into the new media pond with a splash. Last week we reported on the CW’s Myxer takeover and full-episode mobile offerings. Now we hear that Thewb.com, their online video site, will be available through VCast and some shows will debut online and on mobile simultaneously.
