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I met Xen for the first time during 3GSM at the mobilists gathering but organising a cocktail doesn’t necessarily mean you have the time to talk to everybody as you would like to. Luckily I started this interview series so I can catch-up with Xen and talk a bit more in-depth with her. Let me share with you her passion for the mobile phone and its influence on people’s social behaviour.

- Can you explain more about your work and your background?

I work at Comverse in the Avatars Group. Our group has developed a new mobile personalization service, called “The Klonies”, which brings the popular Web avatar experience to the mobile environment. This new communication experience enables mobile users to define how they appear on their friends’ mobile handsets.

“A Klonie” is basically an Avatar persona that can be created and personalized on the fly (from the handset or the web) and be used as caller ID; meaning that I can decide how I look on my friends’ mobile screen each time I call them or send them SMS.

Since it’s a web based service, we are about to launch a website and a blog as well. Currently we’re working on concepts, content, look and feel for the website and blog… it’s very interesting and creatively challenging!

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented?

I’m more social oriented, there’s no other way of looking at it I think today we have reached a point in which technology has a vast effect not only on the business, but also on the social. Take for example communication technology such as IM or Mobile - totally changing our social behaviors and lifestyle. I’m interested in people, in how they use technology, in how technology meets people’s need and how it influences social behavior. Of course learning and widening areas of expertise are always an advantage in life, you never know when knowing a thing or two might be handy…

- What got you into mobile?

Well, I did my university degree in communications so it was very natural for me to look for a job in the telecommunication field. It’s amazing to be in the place were the technology of tomorrow is being developed. I won’t forget one class when we discussed the influence of the bonfire as an important mean for communicating between distant tribes. And I was scratching my head and thinking to myself – “wake up academy! Haven’t you heard of NEW technologies? Web identities? Mobile? IP TV?”

DIGITAL LIFESTYLE

- How does mobile technological progress influences your daily routine in your work?

I think I have a little addiction issue… since my work can go with me anywhere - it does! I keep checking my emails, stats, comments everywhere I go. It is really hard to keep myself offline and do other things like go to the beach on a nice Saturday morning (Saturday here is like your Sunday). It’s very hard to draw the line between the personal and the professional. Oh, and we haven’t talked about the delight of working from home once in a while (eating cookies and not being forced to spend 4 hours on the road to get to the office and back)… That is something that in the past I really just *couldn’t do*. I served the army at the intelligence force so being 24-7 at the office meant being literally at the office.

- Which tools you use to publish, blog or moblog your work?

I use TypePad as my platform, it’s very friendly to use but limiting when it comes to more advanced stuff… besides that I use Bloglines to get my readings and Del.icio.us to keep interesting things I come across the web.

- Which applications and services do you use regularely on your phone?

Making calls, sending SMS, downloading ringtones, taking pictures and changing my Klonies wallpapers. I also use the calendar and the reminders and I use my mobile as a watch because I don’t ever wear one. Oh, almost forgot, I use the mobile as my alarm clock… suddenly I remembered that before the mobile I had a radio alarm. I guess it would be nice to get the mobile to wake you up with a nice mp3 song, wouldn’t it?

- Would you use your device to interact with other machines?

I think that paying for small things like a pop soda at vending machines or paying for parking would be a great thing. It releases you from the need to always keep change (and makes my bag a little lighter). And on cold nights, it would be really great, if I could use the mobile to turn the heat on 15 min before I get back!

- Would you download mp3 tunes on your phone?

Sure, as long as the price is reasonable… my phone bill is already huge!

- What about Mobile TV?

Mobile TV is a great way to pass the time when you’re waiting for the doctor’s appointment or when you’re on the train\subway yet it’s a bit anti-social. Lately I take the train on my way to work and back so I’ve realized that people like to interact with their ride neighbors (Israelis are very friendly, sometimes too friendly if you’re trying to read the paper or to get a short nap). Only if there aren’t any interesting people to communicate with, they grab the mobile into their hands and pass the time (mostly talking, texting or downloading ringtones). However, TV has always been a conversation killer (don’t you know those moments when you have to turn the TV off to talk with your partner?), moreover with the size of the mobile screen - there is no social activity here…

GEEK STUFF

- How do you experience the Mobile Internet? Which mobile browsers do you use?

It’s so so so expensive here in Israel that I try to avoid it if it isn’t totally necessary. But if I really have to use it, I like the Opera mobile browser.

- Web 2.0? What does it mean to you?

Web 2.0 is a more pluralistic way of creating content, since new technologies make publishing and broadcasting a lot more accessible to anyone (we still have a long way to accomplish the vision of pluralism, but still). Web 2.0 is about changing the hierarchy and about nibbling media’s hegemony.

- MoSoSo + wi-fi + urban networks?

The ultimate mobile and social experience! And a great place for the Klonies!

- Do you develop content/technology yourself?

At the avatars group we’ve developed some new patent pending technological developments that allow us to bring the advanced personalization capabilities of the Web to the Mobile.

FUTURE OF MOBILE

- How do you see the future of mobile?

We will see more user focused technologies and content. Soon, the mobile could replace the PC and enable us total mobility and accessibility.

- What is gonna be the next *big thing* in mobile? - The mobile trend(s) in the future?

The Klonies!! Seriously, I think taking advantage of the visuality of the mobile phone would be the next *big thing*. It can be mobile avatars, mobile TV and F2F on videophoning.

PERSONAL FAVORITES

- Who inspires you professionally?

Two of my teachers (past and present) which are very dear to me:

• Dr. Ashley Tobias as an artist and as a person, with his devotion to his art, his profession and his happiness.
• Dr. Irene Einat-Confino as a top level scholar and as a person, with her wit, charm, and a big place in her heart for her students.

On the blogging sphere I appreciate Darla Mack’s honest and colorful writing. And I appreciate Russell Beattie’s incredible ability to write about anything (and nothing) and make me read it all the way through.

- Your favorite mobile technology blog?

Russell Beattie
GigaOm

- Your favorite mobile device?

Nokia phones.

- Favorite mobile application/service?

There are a few, actually… On 6 am it always looks like it’s going to rain so getting the weather forecast is a crucial thing to decide what to wear (and yet, I always wear more layers than really needed…) Texting is brilliant, especially when you don’t really want to get involved in a never ending conversation. And last but not least, the Klonies as the ultimate mobile self expressing service.

-Favorite quote?

“Give a man a mask and he would tell you the truth” (Oscar Wilde)

OTHER

- Your ultimate dream scenario including mobile?

Well, my *ultimate dream scenarios* don’t include a mobile… (Proportions, friends, there are more important things in life!) I wish for happiness, health, love and self-fulfillment. But if you insist on *the ultimate dream scenario including a mobile* issue, getting my Nokia upgraded would be a nice to have.

- The ultimate tech device not invented yet?

My mom’s dream has always been to invent a folding clothes machine. I’ll give the spotlight to her tech vision [Xen’s mom, you’re famous! ]

- Which links would you like to be included?

www.klonies.com (counting down for our launch)
http://xendolev.typepad.com

- Who else could you recommend to be interviewed next?

Xeni Jardin

- Anything else you would like to add? Something the big players are missing?

Uniqueness, creativity, inspiration, guts, belief and persistency distinct dreams and success.

TAGS: women in mobile Xen Mendelsohn Comverse avatars klonies m-trends.org

Women in Mobile, womeninmobile