By serial entrepreneur Christian Lanng, Tradeshift CEO.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
"Why You Shouldn't Start a Company"
By serial entrepreneur Christian Lanng, Tradeshift CEO.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Intel Moves Ahead with MeeGo, Despite Nokia Shift
Intel says it is moving ahead to commercialize MeeGo, the smartphone operating system Nokia recently abandoned in favor of Windows Mobile.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Big changes in Mobile Carrier Billing Will Affect Payment Possibilities
In most businesses, it makes a difference whether a firm's direct costs are 40 percent or 10 percent. Up to this point, revenue splits of about 60 percent for the merchant and 40 percent for a mobile carrier have sharply limited the types of products that can be sold using the mobile device and carrier billing.
In other words, products bought and billed directly to the mobile statement have imposed higher transaction costs, by far, than use of credit and debit cards, for example. Zong knows all about carrier billing, but has been predicting there would be significant movement on the charges, as Zong volume has grown. That appears to be happening.
The carriers are dropping the revenue splits to closer to 10 percent, from 40 percent. “The carriers won’t go below 10 percent for digital or virtual goods, but they will lower their rates for physical,” says David Marcus, the CEO of Zong.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Google Sees Both Loyalty and Advertising Angles to Mobile Payments
There's little question at this point but that Google intends to use near field communications in ways that might use the payment function, but almost certainly will focus on advertising, couponing, loyalty and other elements of the retail shopping experience.
In fact, payments as such might not be Google's primary interest in near field communications. Google might see much more upside in working with advertisers to extend offers to phones, perhaps including couponing and other offers as part of the ads.
In fact, payments as such might not be Google's primary interest in near field communications. Google might see much more upside in working with advertisers to extend offers to phones, perhaps including couponing and other offers as part of the ads.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Mobile Users are Task Oriented, Tablet Users More Entertainment Oriented
Research to date on tablet advertising has typically found that placements that take advantage of the full features of the device—like video, 360-degree views, striking photos and interactivity—appeal most to users. An Adobe-sponsored study found flashy iPad ads were more engaging and effective than their static print counterparts, and earlier research from UM and Time Inc. indicated that videos were the most desired feature of iPad ads.
On smartphones, by contrast, users seem to prefer to keep it simple. A Pontiflex survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that very few smartphone users preferred ads that were like commercials or that featured video. Just 15 percent of all adults liked such ads on their phone, vs. 63 percent who preferred more basic coupons, deals or newsletters.
On smartphones, by contrast, users seem to prefer to keep it simple. A Pontiflex survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that very few smartphone users preferred ads that were like commercials or that featured video. Just 15 percent of all adults liked such ads on their phone, vs. 63 percent who preferred more basic coupons, deals or newsletters.
So it appears the flashy video ads are better suited to tablets, while coupons are better suited to smartphone users.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Mobile Banking in Africa to Hit U.S.$22 Billion By 2015
The International Telecommunications Union estimates mobile subscriptions across Africa more than tripled to 333 million since 2005. The World Bank said Sub-Saharan Africa averages just 163 bank accounts per 1,000 adults — compared to an average 635 in developing countries.
In 2006, Kenya had only 450 bank branches and 600 automatic teller machines, or less than two bank branches per 100,000 people. Read more here.
Taking the overall population as the potential target market, the penetration rate of mobile telephony in Uganda is now 35 percent, while in Liberia, it was around 31 percent in 2009. In Cameroon, where MTN and Orange have a duopoly, the penetration rate was around 38 percent in June 2010. In Kenya, mobile penetration is 50 percent, while in Rwanda, it was about 25 percent in early 2010.
South Africa’s Wizzit is another start-up. Its operations are guaranteed by the South African Bank of Athens. Managing Director Brian Richardson will not disclose the number of subscribers, but says the operation turns a profit.
“I do believe the bank-led model will win at the end of the day,” he says.
South Africa’s Wizzit is another start-up. Its operations are guaranteed by the South African Bank of Athens. Managing Director Brian Richardson will not disclose the number of subscribers, but says the operation turns a profit.
“I do believe the bank-led model will win at the end of the day,” he says.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Visa Likes Square
Square allows small merchants, who have traditionally been limited by paper-based payments, to accept electronic payments through a credit card reader that plugs into a phone or iPad. "This is a big deal and will help the entire payments industry’s efforts in bringing access to electronic payments to a segment that has historically not been easy to serve, namely very small merchants," Visa says.
Before, these very small merchants depended solely on the limits of cash transactions, Visa says. Now with Square’s product, these small merchants can use a mobile device as a gateway, making a transaction over Visa’s global network and gaining the security, speed and reliability that come with it.
Before, these very small merchants depended solely on the limits of cash transactions, Visa says. Now with Square’s product, these small merchants can use a mobile device as a gateway, making a transaction over Visa’s global network and gaining the security, speed and reliability that come with it.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
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