Mobile operators are constantly asking if they should charge for exposing network level API’s. In a discussion just yesterday there was a strong sentiment for “YES” if they add real value…..I had to go back and remind them of a couple of things.
Does Facebook charge for accessing their API’s? Does Twitter? Does Java on the handset? Does Apple charge to access the Accelorometer api on the hanset? NO.
And by the way what is real value add? Don’t the developers application add real value to the network? Mobile Operators primary focus should be not to be disenfranchised in the value chain. API’s at the telecom operator has the strong potential to increase ARPU’s up to 36%

Currently there are some 15M software developers in the world. Of these there are a number of opportunities for them to developer their applications
1 Embedded
2. Enterprise
3. mobile
4. web (more…)

Singtel just announced their app store, sorry app zone http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/07/14/singtel-to-launch-its-own-app-store/

The twist Singtel is offering is is interesting and it’s always great to learn about another distribution for developers. However I miss some of the additional strategic elements for Singtel not to be disenfranchised and left out of the greater revenue pie.

In our experience linking an API story for application developers with a strong App store proposition will provide operators with a strong differentiator. Not only does this give developers access to network resources with a D2C offering but it is also something the device manufacturers can’t offer developers.

Furthermore when reading through the article I can’t help thinking about the commercial model which always come up in the developer communities when associated with the appstore. Developers, particularly in Asia, are very interested in the underlying commercial appeal. Again linking a developer community with to API’s and the appzone further enhances the “commercial appeal”.

Developers are heavily courted these days both across the web and on the mobile. Singtel clearly has a lot to offer developers across it’s Group of companies in addition to just the editorial input and elevating applications for local relevance and content. (more…)

The mobile address book will soon become the all-important bridge between the walled gardens of social media and IM communication. Increasingly, our friends and contacts are spread across more and more “buddy lists.” We need a single repository for all our “friends”- be they business or personal – and that’s where the mobile address book comes in.

Keep your friends in one place (your mobile) and have a one-click way to connect to whichever IM / SNS / communication platform that they are members of. Address books will soon auto-update whenever your friends’ update their profiles, making it much more valuable than a list of names and phone numbers.

I thought that swapping phones to my new 3G iPhone (which I LOVE) would be easy this time because I had finally signed up to zyb. I was going to be able to move my contacts and calendar across from my Sony Ericsson P1i with the greatest of ease, not having to worry about how many contacts I’d have to delete first etc. I was feeling very smug.

Phase 1 – easy – moved everything onto the zyb platform easily, no problem synching etc. Phase 2, click on the iPhone, *&(%$#@, no 3G version. I’ll be checking back regularly in the hope that they will be upgrading soon. Think the product is great but the need to get to market as, or before, the latest phones come out or it’s a complete waste of time.

I know, an unrealistic demand given the pace of mobile development but a girl can dream.

If I’ve missed the update keep me posted.

I’ve been a fan on Franklin Covey since my husband went on a course and came home raving about it. Unfortunately he stopped using his massive binder but, as a technophile, it was a hardly a surprise but the concept of setting goals and breaking them down into prioritized tasks struck home – well, with me anyway.

I’m a project manager by training and my own boss and, as such, am a complete pain about trying to get all my ducks in a row but I’m also in the technology space so I wanted to find something that would fit into my lifestyle. You’d hardly know it to look at the Franklin Covey site because they must still sell so much of the off line “stuff” but they actually have some good online products that even a quasi-geek like me can master.

To date, I have been using the plug-in that allows me to integrate the FC planning tools into my Outlook and I thought that that was cool. BUT I’m just about to get a new iPhone (Apple has finally acknowledged that those of us in Asia might like one too) and I am totally overexcited that I’m going to be able to synch it with Plan Plus too. Just think, I can be just as uptight out of the office as I am in it. Yeehaa!

Watch this space, I’m planning to get to grips with Plan Plus on my iphone next week and will then bore everyone rigid about how it is changing my world – positive thinking. Of course, I’ll also be happy to tell you if it sucks – FC Plan Plus that is because I couldn’t admit to not liking the iPhone so soon, having been clamouring for it for so long.

Let me know if you notice a difference;)

Read: FranklinCovey’s PlanPlus Online now accessible from mobile phones