Gaming
Barack Obama targets the gamers with political in-game advertising [Shiny Shiny]
Look out for Barack Obama in your next video game purchase - the Democratic nominee had bought space in nine of EA’s bestselling games. While he won’t be fist-bumping John Madden, you can expect to see a billboard or so here and there.
U.S. Mobile Game Industry Worth $1 Billion; Will Soar To $6.8 Billion in 2013 [mocoNews]
The mobile game industry in the U.S. is projected to expand to $6.8 billion by 2013, according to the research firm In-Stat. Can you say data revenue? Cha-ching!
Commerce
Citi and Obopay pilot person-to-person mobile payment service [Into Mobile]
Owe your bookie and can’t find an ATM? If you are a Citibank customer, you can send and receive money instantly via a mobile phone number. The bank is currently piloting the first real-time and person-to-person mobile money transfer service.
Juniper Research: More than 100 million mobile users to make international money transfers by 2013 [Into Mobile]
Wiring money internationally is on the cusp of mass adoption, according to a study by Juniper Research. By 2013, they project that 100 million of us will be doing it.
Handsets
Icono Split Handset Concept Not As Crazy As It Looks [Engadget Mobile]
Go Go Gadget Phone! We can imagine Inspector G using the Icono phone, a “handset” that turns your pinky and thumb (the universal “call me!” gesture) into a microphone and speaker. While just a concept at this point, it could turn it into a reality in the not-so-distant future.
Music
Coldplay, Weezer, MIA Sell LPs in New Media Format [Pitchfork]
The Big 4 - Universal, Warner, EMI and Sony BMG - have teamed with SanDisk to create a new music media format called slotMusic, memory cards pre-loaded with albums that plug right into phones, portable media devices, computers and even a few car stereos.
Applications
Jag.ag Brings Efficient Mobile Site Creation to the Masses [TechCrunch]
As the Web moves onto handsets, there will be increasing demand for a simple WAP solution. Jag.ag, and competitors like Zinadoo and Wirenode, are tapping this opportunity, enabling Joe the Plumber to create his own mobile presence in just a few easy steps.
Forget the front desk: Hotels go high tech [Mobile Crunch]
“Hotel Evolution,” a Web-based app that debuted recently at the Malibu Beach Inn in CA, runs on guest’s iPhones (if they don’t have, they can borrow) and lets them do things like order room service, set a wake-up call, request luggage, check messages and set their room to “Do Not Disturb.” It also provides information about nearby nightlife, attractions and shopping. Not only could this be extended to other locations, but it presages the evolution of the phone into a full-blown concierge for your life, adapting its offerings based on your location.
Advertising
Ad industry eyes the iPhone [Fortune]
The success of iPhone apps has brands eager to advertise in them. While the placements may bother some, they will make more apps available for free. As one marketer pointed out, “Consumers are drunk on free from the Internet.”
Location
Join in the Moblog treasure hunt [Shiny Shiny]
To promote awareness of XDRTB, Moblog UK has started a treasure hunt around London. Based on clues, the goal is to find hidden objects, photograph them and mark them on a map. These GPS tags, in turn, will create a large piece of artwork that you can view on Google Maps.
Social Networking
Social Networks Go Mobile With Handset Makers [Businessweek]
Social networks like Facebook and MySpace are sidestepping mobile-phone carriers and striking deals directly with handset makers to secure prominent placement on Web-enabled handsets.
