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Hi all

I recently came across this article at Fierce

http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/most-iphone-developers-dont-make-money/2009-06-17-0

What a surprise, they'd better go for easily monetizable mobile websites :)

The article actually shows nicely how wrong expectations of businesses are on the impact of mobile downloadable apps as potential revenue stream on mobile devices. The reality is that most apps in App Stores are either games, free productivity tools or fun apps. Games can be monetized nicely in this concept and will have a bright future on mobile devices for sure, but all other type oof apps will be expected to be free by users. To add to the dilemma creating apps for various mobile devices OS such as Symbian, Blackberry, Android, iPhone, WindowsMobile is a VERY expensive and time consuming process in development and maintenance.

I always ask myself why people get so easily blinded to go for the complex way, whereas the easy way to make money and provide rich mobile apps is so obvious: utilize the browser on each phone and build mobile websites! You can virtually do anything today in a browsable application, what you could do in an application except high-end gaming graphics. You can build high-end user interfaces, access GPS module and more. Monetization is standardized in advertising and people understand the concept of browsing sites easily. The distribution is global and developers can build one application running on thousands of mobile devices within the browser worldwide. Big reach = big revenues.

Luckily most of our customers understand this already clearly and have a good strategy on this: make money with a mobile website as core service and use apps as PR tool to get attention in the market. The future of apps for mobile devices will be browsable applications, be not be fooled by short term market trends.

Best

BiscuitMonster

Hi all

as expected the arrival of the new iPhone creates lots of buzz again in the market. Also technology features such as the iPhones capability to check the GPS module from within Safari browser opens up many new ideas in mobile website development and content personalization. Check out the article below

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=137165

Best

Biscuitmonster

App stores seem to be a must have, today. After Apple launched the iPhone App Store, BlackBerry App World, Microsoft Windows Marketplace, Google Android Market and the Nokia Ovi Store are following this trend.

But apps don’t solve the hardware and software fragmentation issues the mobile industry is facing.

Nokia gives strong proof for this, as they are not even capable of solving fragmentation issues across their own range of handsets. Nokia has over 20,000 apps for the start in the Ovi Store, but not all apps work on all Nokia phones. In fact most apps only work on a line of phones (E-, N-) or even worse probably on just a few Nokia phones. For more information read this article on mocoNews.

Mobile websites developed with Netbiscuits don’t know such problems. They run on any device that’s got a browser installed, in any network worldwide.

Netbiscuits was very proud to be selected as a jury member for the first annual Mobile Peer Awards organized by Mobile Monday on 30 March the Singapore. The main idea of this award was to showcase the most innovative emerging mobile companies in Singapore. It was mixed with feedback from a jury of mobile experts in the local mobile industry and lots of MoMo-styled fun and networking.

All in all, there were 12 mobile start ups that had exactly 5 min to impress the jury and audience, with entering companies either belonging to the ‘Start-Up’ or ‘Emerging-Stage’ categories. Prizes included some high-end tech gadgests as well as free booth space in the Singapore IDA’s pavilliion during CommunicAsia 2009 in June.

All participants did a great job and congratulations go to the winners that included an all-in-one mobile community aggregator, an innovative bar code solution and a next generation LBS approach! All entries and the ensuing networking event showed once again that a vibrant, creative and innovative mobile community exists in Singapore.

Best Joerg

According to Nielsen 6.2 Mio Germans access the Mobile Internet regularily in 2009. Most used services are Search, E-Mail, News and Events. 70% of the Users are male.

Pls. read more here.

Cheers

BiscuitMonster