Archives for the month of: November, 2007
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New Feature – Yahoo Answers

November 9, 2007 //
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I’ve decided to add a new feature to my blog for a little fun. You see, I’m a big fan of Yahoo answers, it’s interesting, useful, interactive and most of all, hilarious! There are some real comedians on the site and although it probably annoys the hell out of the people asking the questions, I find it highly amusing when I come across comedy answers to posted questions. So moving forward I am going to post some of the best of yahoo answers on my blog each Friday, just for giggles. Here are the first offerings:

Question – As a christian; how would you approach a homosexual?

Answer – from the rear of course!

Question – Since there is no marriage in heaven, do you think that we will lose the feelings for the opposite sex?

Answer - We all get 75 virgins! WOOOH!

Question – What is Hell Like?

Answer – its in northern england and its called crew

Answer – Warm most of the year. Windy in March. Great Mexican food. Great night life. Not a whole lot of high culture. Taxes are way too high. Nice people. Bring your English/Spanish dictionary.

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Categories Social Media

Google on the go

November 8, 2007 //
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It was reported yesterday on the Google Lat-Long Blog that a deal had been struck between the Google maps team and US fuelling and retail management company Gilbarco Veeder-Root.  This deal will allow for the integration of Google maps into their systems providing local business information and directions.  I can see how the directions functionality could work but am struggling to see the use of the local business information would be of use, after all, most people using a petrol station would be local anyway.

I am also thinking that they may be planning to charge for this service as well which makes it even worse.  Not many people are going to want to use the internet in a petrol station anyway and if you start telling them they will have to pay for the privilege then I cant see many people going for it.

It will be interesting to see how they integrate the system though and whether they can actually make it work.

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Categories Google

Google announce ‘Android’ platform for mobile devices

November 6, 2007 //
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Email received from Google today, interesting stuff!

Dear Agency partner

As you may have already heard, today a broad alliance of leading technology and wireless companies today joined forces to announce the development of Android, the first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices. We thought you might like to receive some further information on this announcement.  As well as detailed information on the release, please also see attached two additional pieces of information- an FAQ on Android and an overview of Google and mobile.

Google Inc., T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola and others have collaborated on the development of Android through the Open Handset Alliance, a multinational alliance of technology and mobile industry leaders.

This alliance shares a common goal of fostering innovation on mobile devices
and giving consumers a far better user experience than much of what is
available on today’s mobile platforms. By providing developers a new level
of openness that enables them to work more collaboratively, Android will
accelerate the pace at which new and compelling mobile services are made
available to consumers.

With nearly 3 billion users worldwide, the mobile phone has become the most
personal and ubiquitous communications device. However, the lack of a
collaborative effort has made it a challenge for developers, wireless
operators and handset manufacturers to respond as quickly as possible to the
ever-changing needs of savvy mobile consumers. Through Android, developers,
wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to
bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The
end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable
wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more
personal and more flexible mobile experiences.

Thirty-four companies have formed the Open Handset Alliance, which aims to
develop technologies that will significantly lower the cost of developing
and distributing mobile devices and services. The Android platform is the
first step in this direction — a fully integrated mobile “software stack”
that consists of an operating system, middleware, user-friendly interface
and applications. Consumers should expect the first phones based on Android
to be available in the second half of 2008.

The Android platform will be made available under one of the most
progressive, developer-friendly open-source licenses, which gives mobile
operators and device manufacturers significant freedom and flexibility to
design products. Next week the Alliance will release an early access
software development kit to provide developers with the tools necessary to
create innovative and compelling applications for the platform.

Android holds the promise of unprecedented benefits for consumers,
developers and manufacturers of mobile services and devices. Handset
manufacturers and wireless operators will be free to customize Android in
order to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower
cost. Developers will have complete access to handset capabilities and tools
that will enable them to build more compelling and user-friendly services,
bringing the Internet developer model to the mobile space. And consumers
worldwide will have access to less expensive mobile devices that feature
more compelling services, rich Internet applications and easier-to-use
interfaces — ultimately creating a superior mobile experience.

Open Software, Open Device, Open Ecosystem

“This partnership will help unleash the potential of mobile technology for
billions of users around the world. A fresh approach to fostering innovation
in the mobile industry will help shape a new computing environment that will
change the way people access and share information in the future,” said
Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt. “Today’s announcement is more
ambitious than any single ‘Google Phone’ that the press has been speculating
about over the past few weeks. Our vision is that the powerful platform
we’re unveiling will power thousands of different phone models.”

“As a founding member of the Open Handset Alliance, T-Mobile is committed to
innovation and fostering an open platform for wireless services to meet the
rapidly evolving and emerging needs of wireless customers,” said René
Obermann, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Telekom, parent company of
T-Mobile. “Google has been an established partner for T-Mobile’s
groundbreaking approach to bring the mobile open Internet to the mass
market. We see the Android platform as an exciting opportunity to launch
robust wireless Internet and Web 2.0 services for T-Mobile customers in the
US and Europe in 2008.”

“HTC’s trademark on the mobile industry has been its ability to drive
cutting-edge innovation into a wide variety of mobile devices to create the
perfect match for individuals,” said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer,
HTC Corp. “Our participation in the Open Handset Alliance and integration of
the Android platform in the second half of 2008 enables us to expand our
device portfolio into a new category of connected mobile phones that will
change the complexion of the mobile industry and re-create user expectations
of the mobile phone experience.”

“The convergence of the wireless and Internet industries is creating new
partnerships, evolving business models and driving innovation,” said Dr.
Paul E. Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer of Qualcomm. “We are extremely
pleased to be participating in the Open Handset Alliance, whose mission is
to help build the leading open-source application platform for 3G networks.
The proliferation of open-standards-based handsets will provide an exciting
new opportunity to create compelling services and devices. As a result, we
are committing research and development resources to enable the Android
platform and to create the best always-connected consumer experience on our
chipsets.”

“Motorola has long been an advocate of open software for mobile platforms.
Today, we’re excited to continue this support by joining Google and others
in the announcement of the Open Handset Alliance and Android platform.
Motorola plans to leverage the Android platform to enable seamless,
connected services and rich consumer experiences in future Motorola
products,” said Ed Zander, Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Inc.

Regards

Google Agency Team UK

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Categories Google, Mobile Internet

Kylie enters the social networking arena

November 5, 2007 //
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social networking, social media, kylie minogue enters social networkingIt was reported today on the New Media Age website that Kylie Minogue is to launch her own social network KylieKonnect.com alowing her fans to interact with one another.

One KylieKonnect fans will be able to create personal profiles, make new friends and hold conversations with one another. They will also be able to download Kylie tracks via 7digital and mobile ringtones of their favourite Kylie tunes. And on upon joining the site Kylie will be their first friend!

The article claimed Kylie is going head-to-head with Facebook and MySpace which is a little creative license from the author but it is an interesting development. I would be intrigued to find out about the additional functionality of the site above and beyond what can be found in message boards on other fan sites and it will be interesting to see how it is adopted by her fan base. It is certainly something which could be picked up on by other artists if it takes off could be the first of an influx of people trying to ride the social media wave. Im not sure I will be rushing off to sign up just yet though!

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Categories Social Networking

Engaging the social phenomenon – does it work for everybody

November 2, 2007 //
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Social media and networking is the new buzz word in online marketing and everyone wants a slice of the action.  It could be through blogging, customer discussion or other means businesses are sitting up and taking note of the power of the social internet community.  But does it work for everybody?

This is a question I asked myself in the face of a company who were very keen to enter this sector and asking for guidance.  The problem is that people take this buzz word, hear the hype around it and decide, “we need to be doing social”, without thinking about what that means to them as a company.  I imagine what they think it means relates to myspace, facebook and bebo, but how do you engage these audiences when you are selling something which doesn’t fit, pensions maybe, of life insurance.  That’s not to say that some of the audience would not be interested but the vast majority aren’t going to be. 

The first question a company should ask itself is, “does my product fit with social media? What am I going to achieve by getting involved?”  If the answer to the first question is no, then stop, look for other ways to achieve your goals.

This example relates directly to the common perception of what social media involves, i.e. social networking sites.  When looking at the broader scope of social it may be you can find a small element which will work for you, customer discussion boards, integrated blogging, community engagement, they are all forms of social media and all have a use.  Social media has a much broader reach than the websites people automatically quote when the phrase is uttered.  So look further afield, engage an social media expert and take their advice on board.  And at the end of the day, if social media isn’t for you, walk away.  Just because something is the flavour of the moment, doesn’t mean its going to taste sweet to everybody.

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Categories Social Networking
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