Is the Era of Webmail Over?

Globally, total minutes spent on web-based email (not including PC web applications such as Outlook) was down two percent in November 2010 compared to November 2009, with time spent in the Asia-Pacific region showing even more dramatic decline dropping 10 percent, according to comScore.

Within the region, markets showed varying levels of engagement trends. The largest decline in time spent was seen in Malaysia (down 22 percent), India (down 19 percent) and South Korea (down 15 percent). Taiwan, Hong Kong and New Zealand on the other hand actually showed increases in overall minutes spent in the category.

Is the Era of Webmail Over? (comScore Voices)

Zong And Boku Launch Carrier Billing with BilltoMobile on Verizon Wireless Network

Zong and Boku, providers of online payments, now are working with Verizon Wireless, using a relationship with BilltoMobile. The move might help both firms leverage BilltoMobile's cost advantages with Verizon.

Historically, wireless carriers have charged roughly 30 percent to 40 percent to process transactions made on the carrier billing systems.

That obviously limits the range of goods, and types of goods, that sellers might be willing to transact using a carrier billing method. Perhaps the biggest potential change is that both firms could move beyond digital goods, at some point, though clearly the immediate incentive is to support mobile digital goods sales.

Mobile Payments Startups Zong And Boku Launch Billing Partnerships With Verizon

Mobile Payment Service Jumio Gearing Up

Jumio, a new online and mobile payment solution, is headed by Jajah founder Daniel Mattes.

Internet pioneers Zain Khan (former Google executive), Mark Britto (former Amazon executive) and Maarten Linthorst (former NASA partner) have jointed the Jumio advisory board.

Internet Pioneers Join Forces to Launch Online and Mobile Payment Service Jumio

IP Carrier: Android In-App Payments Coming "Soon"

Eric Chu, a group manager at Google for the Android platform, says the in-app payment system for Android originally was set to launch last quarter, but it was delayed because of developer distraction (the Christmas and holiday season). The payment function will be available soon, Chu says.

IP Carrier: Android In-App Payments Coming "Soon"

Everything Everywhere To Launch Mobile Payments

Everything Everywhere, the marketing venture between U.K. mobile operators Orange and T-Mobile, has unveiled plans to roll out a mobile payments service by the second quarter of 2011, and is powered by Barclaycard.

The new service will allow consumers to use their mobiles to make purchases at over 40,000 stores.

The platform uses SIM cards and bill build on Everything Everywhere and Barclaycard’s ongoing partnership, which has already produced a co-branded contactless credit card and the forthcoming Orange Cash pre-paid contactless card.

Users will initially be able to purchase items up to the value of £15 by simply swiping their mobile phones across an electronic reader.

The phone uses “Near-Field Communication” technology in addition to the SIM modules.

http://everythingeverywhere.com/2011/01/27/the-uk%E2%80%99s-first-commercial-launch-of-contactless-mobile-payments-by-everything-everywhere-and-barclaycard-set-to-revolutionise-buying-on-the-high-street/

Everything Everywhere To Launch Mobile Payments

Verizon Launches Google Apps Bundle

Verizon is combining its leading broadband business services with a broad range of business applications from Google, featuring Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sites.

This new offering, Google Apps for Verizon, is specifically designed to help smaller companies advertise by providing them with a domain name and domain name e-mail, and to boost their productivity by making cloud-based capabilities available to employees, whether in an office or on the go.

Google Apps for Verizon, which provides three free user accounts, is immediately available to businesses that subscribe to a bundle consisting of Verizon Internet service and either Verizon voice or TV service, or both.

The bundles with Google Apps are available in Washington, D.C., and parts of 12 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia. Google Apps for Verizon is also available as a stand-alone service to all businesses across the country for $3.99 per month per user.

Verizon Launches Combo of Broadband Services With Google Apps

Consumers say they are most concerned about sharing their location with people or organizations they have not specified (87%), followed by sharing their location without consent (84%), having personal information or identity stolen (84%) and overall loss of privacy (83 %), a new study by Microsoft has found.


read more hereHowever, perceptions of the risks decline while perceptions of value increase after consumers begin using location-based services. Consumers feel more comfortable if they are given control over who has their location information and how that information is used.

• · 49% would be more comfortable with location-based services if they can easily and clearly manage who sees their location information (US 55%, UK 50%, Germany 51%, Canada 36%, Japan 51%).
• · 62% say they are aware of and 38% are familiar with location-based services. 51% report having ever used a location-based service (US 50%, UK 43%, Germany 47%, Canada 59%, Japan 57%). Only 18% report using a location-based service for location sharing with other people.