mTrends - mobile media lifestyle trends - m-trends.org

I’m heading to San Francisco next week for the Mobile 2.0 and Web 2.0 Summit related events. One of THE events I’m looking forward, organised by friend Caroline Lewko from WIP Connector is the Essence Event on October 23.

Only 2 blocks away from Moscone Center to party, mingle with Mobilists and to network with rogue influencers; probably one of the most essential get togethers during CTIA Wireless I.T. & Entertainment 2007.

es•sence (s ns)

the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

Subscribe here to the invitation only list, only 160 places left when writing this…

After 18 months of different adventures in blogland, Debi Jones is back with a solid update of her mobilejones.com blog. Debi’s in-depth analytic and no-nonse blog style has always been a reference and inspiration to me in my early blogging days. I’m really happy she’s back!

After this long break she’s back in style, hosting the 80th (!) Carnival of the Mobilists, the wheel keeps spinning… Judy Breck - another of my illuminates, has been taking care of organising the weekly Carnival of the Mobilists this year and is now checking for a new series of experienced and talented Carnival hosts.

As Debi phrases it so nicely:

I’d like to thank Judy for keeping the lights on and the welcome mat out for we longtime mobile commentators, the newer entrants into the fray of mobility’s future and for the large audience that each CoM draws together from highly successful mobile blogs.

The CoM is currently seeking additional hosts. You can participate in moving the tradition forward and making your own mark with the best writing on mobile. The details can be found in the CoM host FAQ, and of course, if you’d like to consider sponsorship opportunities with CoM contact Judy directly.

Kudos to both Debi and Judy for their unique engagement and involvement in the blogging about mobile area btw: you can read the previously published Women in Mobile interviews of both women here: Women in Mobile - Debi Jones and Women in Mobile - Judy Breck.

I never met Social Media Strategist Katie Lips in person but I often have been bumping into her online and have been following her projects in mobile and social media ever since I started my blog: a real mobile geek for a change; from Treasuremytext with Kisky Netmedia to her previous blog or bumping into her at Plazes or Jaiku, Katie is always on the ball and has always good ideas at hand, so I asked her to be the next woman to be interviewed in the Women in Mobile series and asked her a bit more about her work and her passion for mobile, an interesting interview with a lot of insight and fresh links, female mobile geek noblesse

YOUR BACKGROUND - YOUR WORK

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

I’m a Social Media Strategist; that means I help people devise and implement social media strategies using web and mobile technologies. Most of my work in this area focusses on helping my clients use technology in a effective way dramatically improving a specific aspect of their business. I work a lot with Open Source Software, helping my clients to develop projects quickly, innovating in content or in better business processes, rather than on reinventing web or mobile infrastructure.

In addition to my consultancy, I am the Co-Founder of Treasuremytext.com a mobile & web application which stores thousands of text messages (SMS) for people worldwide. I’ve been working with technology since the around 1998 when I made my first ‘website’ and with mobile since around 2001 which was the first time I integrated SMS with a web application.

As well as Treasuremytext, I have also worked on other (mainly arts based) mobile projects including a “Attention Please! an Experiment” (using RFID in the gallery) and C21tones.com an experimental ‘user generated’ ringtone website. Recently I have also helped a new pan-european publisher integrate mobile services into their web offering (clubcollective.com)

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented? How does this reflect in your work?

With an educational background in the Arts, a professional background in Technology and now working to build up my own business and mobile service, I would say I have to be all three. Most of what I do is about ideas - in any arena. Having a technical understanding of how things are built, means you know what’s possible. Having creativity and ambition means you aren’t afraid to ignore what is and isn’t possible and to build what you want how you want. And if you’re launching anything online or offline, in today’s world, you of course need to be very social. Having diverse perspectives on life means I am interested in lots of things, and specifically in new approaches to mobile and mobile services.

- What brought/brings you into the mobile/mobility area?

I set up Kisky Netmedia with my partner Paul Stringer in 2002 to develop mobile applications. We had already worked on many amazing web projects and saw mobile as a huge opportunity, full of potential and excitement. With our web background we approached mobile services with the view that we would use web functionality to improve mobile services, rather than seeing the two worlds separately.

At that time in the UK at least, the mobile marketplace seemed rather depressing, and void of anything I personally wanted to try. I found so many things about mobile so wrong and felt compelled to attempt to fix some of them. It seemed as if everything was ‘designed’ to extract money from ‘consumers’, rather than to solve a real problem or need. In our own small way I think we at least created projects which made other people think about some of the issues. I never intended to be a mobile activist; just to make things in the area of mobile that real people found really useful.

In 2003 I had a phone which could only save 15 SMS messages. I was forever deleting some to make room for more, and over time I was having to delete messages that were important to me. Treasuremytext was born. The idea that we could make people’s experience of ‘mobile’ better with a ‘website’ was pretty radical then.

We set up Kisky to deliver Treasuremytext and mobile services design. Some things we did right, some things we did wrong. We were very young. I learnt a lot and quickly and I have been working with mobile in one way or another ever since.

My current workload includes new work on Treasuremytext. We are about to launch Treasuremytext ‘2.0′ a fully ’social’ mobile application; a new version for a new era of the web (and of mobile) services. We have a lot of (geeky and non-geeky) users who are very loyal and keep lots and lots of messages.

A couple of years ago most of my current clients believed mobile was irrelevant to them. Now, all sorts of organisations are starting to think how they can use mobile practically; how can they use mobile to stay in touch, or to work smarter. My current projects in mobile are diverse. I’m working with a UK Fire Service to integrate mobile technologies into their business; improving internal communication and improving relationships with the community they serve. I’m also working with several organisations to increase their reach and reputation online; and now this includes using mobile channels. A lot of what I do is in the Web2.0 or ‘Social Media’ space, and I try to apply these principles to mobile as far as possible.

MOBILE LIFESTYLE

- What is your personal ‘big issue’ in life? Can the mobile phone or technology in general help improving situations?

Mobile for me is about giving you power via your handset; wherever and whenever. Power to find things out (search), power to communicate (IM, SMS, Email, Blog), power to create (Blog, Photoblog, VideoBlog). However my mobile ‘killer apps’ are still voice and SMS.

I see ‘online’ as a key enabler; and I see ‘mobile’ as an extension of those capabilities. So not being under 20, I did not grow up with a mobile device, and perhaps my mobile use is somewhat conservative. I use my phone where I don’t have my laptop+wifi; and that’s it basically until some amazing services come along and I get a brilliant data plan on my phone. I will keep an eye on the iPhone of course!

I am truly looking forward to the iPhone and fully expecting it will revolutionize how I use a mobile ‘phone’, sorry ‘device’; when they are available in Europe that is. I am hoping that the iPhone will do all those things that so far mobile has for one reason or another not quite been able to deliver. I can’t wait!

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

As mobile technologies progress and lead to the availability of new mobile services, I’m of course compelled to try them out. And the always on access to communications and creativity is a good thing for anyone in any situation. I must admit that no mobile service has changed the way I work or influenced my routine, whereas plenty of web services have. And I’m not intending to be a skeptic, rather I feel the web offers more functionality than mobile can currently offer (due to handset OS and data lock down), and as such, the tiny array of services I can access are just not going to start influencing my life. That said, there are some really nice ideas out there that would improve it. I like Socialight.

- How does ubiquitous computing affect your mobile lifestyle? How do you see ubicomp evolving the next 5 to 10 years?

Yeah so, for us geeks we’ll have better wireless networks, better access to services, in more places in the world. For everyone else, apart from mobile data costs coming down making people use their phones even more to do even more things, other things will start to happen. We’ll start to see better joined up services from Governments; (which you may or may not see as a good thing). We’ll see companies being able to reach much more target groups of consumers. We’d like to think we can find, pay for and take delivery of our own specialist products, whatever we want in the longtail of entertainment, literature, and arts.

But where as the web is a level playing field, an open platform, mobile is not. And we must be careful about upselling the vision of a world where there is no place for independent developers; no place for the free press, a place where a few organisations control what content people have access to, the brands they can buy and where they can buy them. As the web has become a platform for independent retailers, publishers, and artists all able to find their niche marketplace; this utopia is not present on ‘mobile’. Not until mobile just becomes a simple extension of ‘online’.

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

Well I have a ‘regular’ wordpress blog where I talk about my work.(http://www.katielips.com) I also use podcasting in some projects for example I have recently produced a podcast for an Arts project I’m working on. The podcast is a behind the scenes glimpse into the making of the exhibition. I love both video and audio podcasts.

- Which applications and services do you use most often on your mobile phone?

I do a lot of texting. Also recently I have started to use Shozu to upload images to Flickr; the immediacy is really compelling; you just take a picture, press a button and it’s live on the Internet for all your Flickr contacts to see. I am also working with Flickr and Shozu to deliver a moblog project for a client; the availability of more and more mobile-to-web tools is starting to mean it’s possible to do build mobile projects and functionality using these free apps. You can then of course pull data out of Flickr using their API. So just that small ‘mobile connect’ bit provided by Shozu essentially lets you build your own flexible moblog application.

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

I haven’t really done a lot of this but I am keen to. I’m thinking coin free vending machines (soda drinks, train tickets and so on) for a start.

MOBILE GEEK?

- What do you think about the next wave of Mobile Augmented Reality tools coming?

I haven’t seen much of this; maybe I’m not paying attention to the right billboards or reading the right magazines. I would of course use QRcodes when they’re applied to something I’m interested in buying. I have used RFID too; to receive context based promotional content and also in an arts context.

- Do you download audio/video files on your phone? Any thoughts on Digital Right Management (DRM)? Future Business Models?

No I don’t download video or audio via my phone; nor do I put content from my computer on my phone. I am still amazed at what people pay for mobile content. Really they’re paying because they think that is the only way they can get the content (often which they have already paid for once) on their phones, and often it is the only way.

The future business model that has to win through is the “buy once / manage online / consume on mobile” model; as in iTunes and the iPhone.

- Do you think web 2.0 technology influences mobile services and tools? How? Mobile 2.0? What does it mean to you? Do you use it? Are these evolutions influencing mobile technology?

Yes I do, already and more and more in the future. Not from the networks though; as the open platform of web2.0 and the idea that it’s possible for anyone to launch a new service is something that is totally at odds with their business.

A lot of web 2.0 applications have mobile components; interact with Jaiku or Plazes or Flickr via your mobile for example. I like this approach to ‘mash-up’ web and mobile applications.

- What are your favourite mobile ‘we media’ (user-generated content) projects?

YouTube in terms of both creating and enjoying content online and on the move. And of course Apple know this as they’ve integrated it right into the iPhone.

- What about Mobile Social Networks? Do you use one yourself? Do you know about a good service?

I use Plazes and also Jaiku, although I’m not a heavy user; I’m not as social as some people in my social network.

FUTURE OF MOBILE

- What is going to be the next *big thing* in mobile?

Well the network operators and handset manufactures loosing a little control of course. Allowing independent developers create new applications can only be a good thing. Whilst services like Widsets are great, I believe Apple is going to fast forward this with iPhone. Talk about reinventing the phone; they also took a pretty good look at the mobile industry and seem set to reinvent some of that too. By making it possible for any developer to create applications (because they are web baed), they are offering a level playing field. It’s like a breath of fresh air.

The previous model was that you had to create an app which would work on a handful of phones, then work really hard to broaden your appeal. Then your market was narrowed anyway by the fact that even if people had compatible handsets you were asking them to download, install and run software, often not knowing their (data transfer) cost implications. It severely crippled the market reach of mobile services. No longer, if you can just make a web app!

This heralds things to come. Apple’s approach fosters innovation; more developers with more ideas will make more great products for their handset, meaning they will sell even more phones. It makes perfect business sense.

As making apps for phones becomes easier so too will making apps for a whole host of mobile connectivity. I was loosely involved in the early days of the Roomware project. Roomware is about a bunch of developers getting together to build an open source server that enables other independent developers to quickly build mobile apps. “Software running in a defined physical space” - using SMS, and also RFID, and potentially using other connectivity. Sadly I haven’t been to the last couple of Roomware meetups but I know things are coming a long well. This is about applying the open source model to mobile development.

- The mobile trend(s) for this and next year?

iPhone, followed by a release of a lot of phones which attempt to compete as media players, which in turn, will force some operators and content owners to rethink some of the DRM issues. I also think more people will start to use more ‘web and mobile’ apps.

PERSONAL FAVORITES

- Who inspires you professionally?

Lots of people; (and too many to name) but I am inspired by creative people; people who believe in their cause, people who just make stuff happen.

- Your favorite mobile technology blog?

I dip into a lot of tech blogs; more web ones than mobile. I tried writing my own, but I didn’t really have enough time to dedicate to making it very good so I totally respect people that do write great tech blogs.I enjoy a mix of interview and analysis so I’d have to say m-trends of course Rudy!

- Your favorite moblog?

Jaiku presence stream from my friends on my mobile when I’m away from my computer.

- Your favorite podcast?

Tateshots: small, digestible, insightful, unique, varied podcasts with brilliant artists. Come on; Gilbert and George on your iPod, what more do you want?

- Your favorite videoblog?

I’m working on a very wonderful project this month; and the video blog we made (also as a podcast) is something I love watching over and over. I’d have to say that really.

- Your favorite mobile 2.0 service?

Plazes, as much for its potential and vision as for my actual use of it. When I’m at a geeky event, it certainly comes in handy to see who’s nearby. I can see it really taking off if it can hook me up with other useful stuff nearby.

- Your favorite mobile device?

My future iPhone.

- Favorite mobile application/service?

Treasuremytext, or some amazing application developed for my future iPhone! And right now it’s GMail.

- Favorite mobile website?

Any website I’ll be able to read on my iPhone?

- Favorite mobile search tool?

Google.

- Who else could you recommend to be interviewed next?

Well I know of a couple of women making art with mobile and I think that might be a nice perspective. I’d say a lot more people now work ‘with mobile’ than’ ‘in mobile’; i.e. that you work with it from outside the ‘mobile industry’. Check out Lisa Roberts‘ creative mobile projects at Blink Media and Jen Southern’s GPS driven artworks.

On my way Katie, thanks!

I met Kathie the first time during 3GSM World Congress this year, she was covering the mobile news for MOpocket with its Founder Justin Oberman. She was usely present where the action happened and had always enough energy left to give act of presence at the network parties that matter, always in for a chat and a laugh, a great company and networker!

I wanted to know a bit more about this woman who is writing on a daily level about mobile trying to educate users on our bussines, Kathie is also the Founder Co-Founder of MobileMonday Washington DC, already looking forward to catch up again with her at the MoMo Global Summit, but meanwhile I did this little interview with her in the “Women in Mobile” series. Enjoy!

YOUR BACKGROUND - YOUR WORK

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

I am a blogger for MOpocket, a mobile technology blog that has been around for just over a year. I try to write my posts in a way that everyone can relate to the topic in some way or another. I think the only way to grow and expand mobile is to educate every day users. It was this desire to spread knowledge and awareness that motivated me to start a Mobile Monday Chapter in Washington, DC.

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented? How does this reflect in your work?

I would say I am social with a dash of technical.

- What brought/brings you into the mobile/mobility area?

It all started a few years ago. I was in the Graduate School of Political Management and working for a think tank in DC. I just finished a major project and was asked to come up with something to fill my time. I was an avid reader of Russell Buckley’s blog at the time and then it just hit me… Mobile + Politics = Democratization. So, I spearheaded the first publication that focused on the convergence of mobile and political campaigns. Politics to Go I think really started the conversation in the US on how we could harness the power of mobile and make the lives of those working in politics and fulfilling civic responsibility a whole lot easier.MOBILE LIFESTYLE

- What is your personal ‘big issue’ in life? Can the mobile phone or technology in general help improving situations?

Democratization: Basically giving people power that would not necessarily have a voice under any other circumstances. Mobile is the great equalizer. It spans every location, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, age, and gender. What other medium can I say that about and for it to actually be true?

- How does mobility technological progress influences your daily routine in your work?In politics or really any business, it is important to be connected. You never know when you opponent may hit you with an attack ad or dig up some dirt on your candidate and release it to the press. Mobile allows me to leave my office, but still be productive. Now, I am not saying continuous computing is a good thing… but it is beneficial to workaholics like me. It allows us to get outside and breathe some fresh air every now and then. But our greatest strengths are also generally our greatest weaknesses. With this ability to never turn off, well I never turn off. It can be wearing. Having a smart phone is simultaneously my favorite and least favorite personal possession of mine.

- How does ubiquitous computing affect your mobile lifestyle? How do you see ubicomp evolving the next 5 to 10 years?

I can see people becoming addicted. I can see people almost craving dead zones.

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

MOpocket is run on WordPress. It’s a pretty straightforward clean looking blog publishing tool.

- Which applications and services do you use most often on your mobile phone?

I am really big on text messaging. I like how you can get straight to the point without the fluff of snoozing. Maybe it’s the New Yorker coming out in me, but I appreciate the directness of it. I guess after that email, calendar, bubble buster, maps, mobile web, and then calling.

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

At this point, other than the blog or flickr I do not communicate with other machines. I really wish I could just pay for everything I purchase with my phone, especially taxis.MOBILE GEEK?

- What do you think about the next wave of Mobile Augmented Reality tools coming?

Being able to pay with the tap of my phone

- Do you download audio/video files on your phone? Any thoughts on Digital Right Management (DRM)? Future Business Models?

What a joke. I have the Verizon Wireless’ “unlimited data” plan where from the name one might thing I can access a limitless amount of data of my choice. Well, nope! Not with Verizon. Essentially, everything one might want to do (download music, upload and down load videos, access webpages with large data files) is not allowed and will result in the termination of your data plan. I think restrictions like this hinder the natural R&D environment.

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

I am a plain Jane when it comes to this. I use the standard IE that came with my windows phone. I must confess, mobile Internet is dreadfully slow and drives me nuts, but usefully I can’t wait until I am in front of my computer for whatever information I am after.

FUTURE OF MOBILE

- How do you see the future of mobility? 5 to 10 years from here?

One word – convergence. The convergence of everything you use into one device.

- What differences do you see of mobile use in USA – Europe - Asia?

Asia has the cute MUST have gadgets and quick connection speeds, Europe has phones I wish I had, the USA lags behind in adoption, innovation, and speed.

- What is going to be the next *big thing* in mobile?

A battery that actually stays charged for a decent amount of time. I currently have the Moto Q (I do not recommend it) and it lasts about a half of a day for me.

PERSONAL FAVORITES

- Who inspires you professionally?

Anyone who is willing to deviate from the norm and make a dream of his or hers happen.

- Your favorite mobile technology blog?

I quite enjoy mTrends, textually, and mobhappy.

- Your favorite podcast?

This may be surprising, but I am not a big fan of podcasts for two reasons. One I am lazy and won’t take the time to connect my iPod to my computer (when is this just going to be wireless?). Two, I already feel saturated with talk radio. I am an avid NPR listener and it’s nearly constantly on in the background during my day.

- Your favorite mobile device?

I do not speak for the functionality of the phone, but I LOVE the way the Prada phone looks.

- Favorite mobile search tool?

Yahoo! OneSearch. I like the snacks of information it gives you. Generally it can get my answer on the first attempt without having to click links that take me to sites that are not formatted for phones. I am really big on things being quick and convenient, otherwise, I can’t be bothered.

OTHER

- Your ultimate dream scenario including mobile technology?

I dream to never ever have to carry a bag again. I dream that one day my phone (which is as sleek as an iPod Nano) is my wallet (payment and drivers license), my keys (work and home), my camera, my mp3 player, and of course my phone that has a battery that can last for a year straight without charging it. I know phones have some of these features already… but as it stands in the US, you either have a cute little phone that produces less than ideal photos and barley has room for my daily email or you have the option of carrying around a bulky brick that takes ok photos and maybe can hold half of my daily email. I am someone who is more form over function.

- The ultimate tech device not invented yet?

An ergonomic phone that prevents Carpel Tunnel.
- Which links would you like to be included?

www.mopocket.com (a blog I write on)
www.mobilemonday-dc.com (My mobile Monday Chapter)

- Who else could you recommend to be interviewed next?

Lubna of MoMo NY. She is the fairy godmother of the DC chapter and I just think the world of her.

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

Lets double the 160-character limit on text messages.

Now that’s a good thought to close this interview, thanks Kathie and good luck with your next initiatives. Hope Lubna is reading this

I would like to introduce you to Heike Scholz in a new series of “Women in Mobile” with a lot of revised and updated questions. Heike is working in Hamburg, Germany, her blog - recently renamed to Mobile Zeitgeist (it’s all in the name - is capturing everything in her specialised field of mobile Advertising and Marketing, covering mobile Couponing, mobile Payment systems or mobile Ticketing.

Heike’s German-only blog came on my radar a couple of months ago and is probably one of the finest around in this field, her radar reach is definately global with a quality nose to pick out the finest and most relevant news she summarizes in her style often many times a day; she must be one of the fastest bloggers around blogging on mobile, but enough introduction, let’s hear it from Heike herself:

YOUR BACKGROUND - YOUR WORK

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

My background is product management and business development in the telecommunications industry. Since the early 2000s I’ve been working as a self-employed consultant and interim manager on different marketing projects and assignments in the ICT and media industry. In 2006 I was engaged in various mobile projects and got infected with some weird mobile viruses.

Today, as an analyst, consultant and marketer, I help (mobile) companies on their business and marketing strategy and how to enter new markets, on product and service optimization. Furthermore I rediscovered my passion for writing articles and became a passionately blogger in this particular fast moving arena. It is fun, helps me to separate the wheat from the chaff in my daily work and builds up my personal reputation - everything at the same time.

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented? How does this reflect in your work?

Totally business oriented. I think this is a freelancer’s obsession.

- What brought/brings you into the mobile/mobility area?

For me there are no philosophical reasons behind my passion for the mobile industry. Almost everything in this area is constantly evolving, mobile devices are almost always online, at the reach of your fingertips and we act in a highly potential market. What else does a marketer need to become enthusiastic?

I lurked for some years on mobile issues and fortunately markets are developing today. It is great to be a part of this trend.

MOBILE LIFESTYLE

- What is your personal ‘big issue’ in life? Can the mobile phone or technology in general help improving situations?

I think we see a lot of great things in developing countries. In Nigeria for example voluntary observers can submit their observations on the election process via SMS. 30 Million Nigerians armed with mobile phones are supposed to become a part of ensuring impartial elections. If mobile phones manage to bring more equity, democracy and equality to the people they would help to make our world a better place. But mobile phones are just the means to an end, people are the crucial factor.

- Do you think mobile phones empower women via different dimensions such as equality, self esteem, safety and security, social networking,… ?

Never thought about that. Maybe in developing countries mobile phones can help women to become more independent. In our western countries I cannot see any effects from mobile phones in regard to your question. But I am convinced that women interact in a different way with their mobile phones. They rarely use it as a gadget like men are doing. They rather use their phones for communication and entertainment purposes.

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

For my work it is essential to be up to speed. So I take care of getting all necessary information no matter where I am. All my mobile devices have internet access and this became vital for me and sometimes it has a whiff of addiction. Yes, I am an internet junkie but my family and my friends are a loved reason to quit.

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

I am a Wordpress rookie as I just switched from a German blog provider that did not suit my needs. Moblogging will be my next step. Podcasting and vlogs are not my focus as for now but might be in the future along the development of my blogging career.

- Which applications and services do you use most often on your mobile phone?

I make/take calls, check emails, read blogs, send/receive text messages and take pictures.

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

My mobile phone, PDA and notebook are connected via Bluetooth primarily for synchronization of data. In my work some kind of radio-based connection from my mobile phone to projectors could help a lot. It makes it easier to present mobile applications to a bigger audience using the phone and not static screen shots. Maybe there are already solutions of which I’m not aware of.

In my daily life it would be useful to have a universal key for my home, car and office respectively. To have all the cards in my wallet e.g. debit -, credit -, club - and loyality cards on my mobile phone.

MOBILE GEEK?

- What do you think about the next wave of Mobile Augmented Reality tools coming?

I would love to use PWC-Components (Physical World Connection) like Image Recognition, Code Reading or NFC. I have different Code Readers on my phone for testing purposes but in Germany there are too few services available. In the near future we will see different PWC-Solutions which will change our usage of our mobile devices. We can see in Japan and South Korea already what could be possible. In Asia Code Reading is as common as making phone calls.

In my home market I am expecting a big change after the German railway operator introduced 2D-Code-Ticketing and will start a NFC based check-in together with Vodafone.

In my daily routine it would be great to use 2D-Codes for scanning business cards or directly connecting to mobile websites instead of fiddling around on a small keypad.

- Do you download audio/video files on your phone? Any thoughts on Digital Right Management (DRM)? Future Business Models?

I have to admit that I am using my old MP3-Player for listening to audio books (what I love the most). It is possible to watch YouTube-Videos (or MyVideo, Clipfish and other) and even complete DVD-Movies on mobile phones but it is not my favorite mobile application.

Media groups are too restrictive with their content and we see now international superstars like Chinese Wei Wei by using cell phones for direct distribution of their music bypassing all media companies. Similar effects we will happen with video. I do not have the solution of striking simplicity for the media industry but they have to face the fact that the good old times are gone and digital/mobile life needs totally different business models.

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

My favorite browser is Opera Mini – release 3.0 now available. Best handling, performance and a big advantage is the reduction of sites when they are not in a WAP format.

- Do you think web 2.0 technology influences mobile services and tools?

No comment. Ignorant marketers can’t even write things like Jawa or Adgax.

- Mobile 2.0? What does it mean to you?

I think mobile 2.0 is a concept, an idea not a technology. User’s intelligence will create new benefits for themselves and for other users. There is nothing really new. In the past centuries people always collaborated in that way and thus created innovations. Today we have the same effects just based on a new technology and on a global scale. Web 2.0 shows how the internet is coming back to its roots of producing and sharing ideas, content and values. Mobile 2.0 will enrich this with intuitive elements. Mobile technology will mature to a more “human” interface as it will provide opportunities to use internet technology spontaneously and without a planned behavior.

Mobile technology has to follow these requirements. Mobile devices will be integrated in clothes or become “wearable” in another way. Mobile devices will recognize the user’s current situation and will provide context sensitive services. Speech and image recognition will substitute the usage of keypads.

- What are your favourite mobile user-generated content projects?

Currently I like wattpad, a story sharing community where you can read and share stories with others over your mobile phone. If you are a writer or poet you can publicize your work so others can read it for free. Recently wattpad included over 17,000 eBooks from Project Gutenberg, the oldest digital library, and now has close to 25,000 stories in its database. When I am on the way and have some waiting time I enjoy wattpad.

- What about Mobile Social Networks?

Some time ago I tried Qiro. This is a cute little application which gives you individualized information about your surroundings via cell positioning. It displays current events, cinema listings, restaurants or the location of your buddies. One of the first location based services in Germany I know of. But I have to admit that I am not using it anymore. Mobile Social Networks are not my favorite way to misspend my time on it.

- Do you use wi-fi on your phone? Is it really a thread for 3G? What about Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC)? Solutions for the future?

No, I don’t have wi-fi on my current phone but will certainly get it with my next mobile device. Bluetooth is a great technology which makes many things more comfortable. I use BT for synchronizing my devices and to connect my wireless headset. In times I’m not using BT I keep it switched off because of security concerns. Another reason is that too many companies are doing Bluecasting now and although I am working in this industry I don’t want to get “bluespammed”.

NFC is the future for short distance communication. It is easy to use and secure. Several solutions in the areas of mobile ticketing, access control, payment, marketing and content distribution will spring up once NFC enabled mobile phones reach a critical penetration rate. Getting more product information, using my phone to access my car or just waving my phone for check-in at airports will become as usual as typing a SMS. There are so many challenging opportunities that I am often amazed of the fact that so many companies are not making use .

FUTURE OF MOBILE

- What do you understand by convergence?

Convergence is a concept that gives users freedom to use digital services when, where and to what ever extend they like. Users will no longer rack their brains on deciding which device and which network they should use for which action and what they have to pay for it. Mobile phones will be like Swiss army knifes and provide individualized, beneficial and contextual services. The device picks the best network depending on place and requirement. And for all this the user pays an adequate fee, predominantly a flat rate. The mobile phone will be the jack of all trades device.

- What differences do you see of mobile use in USA – Europe - Asia?

Are there any? Of course there are some little differences today. But I think in some years we will have similar behavior all over the world like we can see it today with clothes. Nowadays Asia is in front, Europe tries to keep up and USA is close behind us. China and India are the countries we should look at in the next years. They will dominate worldwide usage and development.

- What is going to be the next *big thing* in mobile?

Speech recognition will be the absolutely biggest “thing” on mobile phones. Complete control over my phone without touching it will be the next evolutionary stage in man-machine interaction.

- The mobile trend(s) for this and next year?

GPS will be the biggest trend on mobile phones in the near future. In Germany already three million people have GPS on their mobile devices. Positioning is the crucial step on the way to location based services and context-sensitive mobile marketing.

PERSONAL FAVORITES

- Who inspires you professionally?

Definitely my partner. He is a salesman, up to every trick and we are working on some very interesting projects together. He brings me down to earth when my head reaches the clouds and takes care that my work does not become too academic which is a constant threat.

- Your favorite mobile technology blog?

Michael Mace’s Mobile Opportunity. Oops, and yours of course, Rudy.

- Your favorite videoblog?

Elektrischer Reporter

- Your favorite mobile 2.0 service?

Shozu. A nice little tool that immediately up-loads my pictures unto my flickr account. Now used by Warner Music and EMI Records for connecting their artists with their fans.

- Your favorite mobile device?

My motor-bike.

- Favorite mobile application/service?

Cellity – Least cost routing on mobile phones helps me reducing my bill.

- Favorite mobile website?

New CNN Mobile.

- Favorite mobile search tool?

Google Mobile. Brand-new Yahoo oneSearch is not available in Europe yet.

- The ultimate tech device not invented yet?

A machine doing my housework.

- Who else could you recommend to be interviewed next?

Dr. Bettina Horster, board member Vivai Software AG, member BITKOM Dialogkreis Konvergenz.

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

Imagination, flexibility, foresight, speed and managers with the power of making decision.

Thanks Heike and good luck with(in) the Mobile Zeitgeist!

Today is International’s Women’s Day, a perfect occassion to refresh the Women in Mobile interview series I started in October 2005. Many people during 3GSM asked me why I stopped doing the interviews… I have to admit I never really stopped doing them, but time just lacked since my last interview with Yasmine Abbas last September. But I’ll do my best, so expect some more interesting interviews here soon again

So with all those enthusiasts asking for more, here I’m back with a second series of Women in Mobile, taking off again with the superb and unique Caroline Lewko. I met Caroline the first time at the first Gathering of the Mobilists last year, a mobilistnetworking cocktail event she basically organised on the other side of the ocean during CTIA Wireless (some pictures of these events here).

I admire Caroline for ther entrepreneurial spirit, her business common-sense, her analytical and networking skills, all flavored with the experience she build through the years in the mobile and wireless sector. She demonstrated also her exquisite Master of Ceremony (MC) and moderating skills during the MobileMonday Global Peer Awards in Barcelona, but let’s hear it now from Caroline herself.

- Can you explain a bit about your background and your work?

I’m a consummate connector. If I can make an introduction for someone that helps accelerate their business – that’s what makes me smile. I’ve been in the industry for over a decade and have both technical and business knowledge. For those reasons I started WIP, the Wireless Industry Partnership, so I could be more helpful and efficient in helping making connections. I created the WIPConnector, a business and partnership directory specifically to find connections in our industry.

I’m also really keen on industry associations having started or been involved in many. WIP is also works with these groups to give them better profile and enhance the services they can provide to their members.

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented?

More Social, with a lot of business and with a technical twist (I have coded in the past, but the thought of doing it again makes my eyes cross)

- What brought you into mobile?

I’m really a wireless purist who accidentally fell into the Communications sector when I was recruited by Anderson Consulting (now Accenture) 12 years ago. I say wireless purists because I deal with all wireless related technologies and all parts of the value chain from satellite systems to base stations to provisioning systems to mobile applications. Not all wireless is mobile nor visa versa.

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

Advantagees and loves – great to be connected on the go, will never travel in a strange place without GPS ever again - although no more excuses for being late either

Problems – its hard to turn it off. I’ve been known to check and send email with my blackberry at all hours.

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

Currently on blogspot and evaluating various mobile blogging tools.

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

Email, address book, calendar, sms, alarm/clock – even though I understand the technology I’m not what you’d call an early adopter

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

Absolutely. City parking is the best feature right now

- Which machinery can you think of would be handy to interact with?

My home/office alarm system, bank machine, gas fireplace, car, gas pump, atm/pos systems. I can’t wait until we can use it at the airport. It’s fine to print off a board pass when you are at your office, but not so easy when your at a hotel. My patience gets tested in airport lineups.

- Do you download mp3 tunes on your phone?

I’m not much of a music junkie, still buying CDs.

- What about Mobile TV?

No desire for this right now. I can’t think of anything I need to ’see’ on demand.

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

I use the browser on my blackberry, and use if several times a month to search for things, look at websites while I’m on the road. It’s not a great experience yet, but certainly getting better all the time.

- Web 2.0? Do you use it? What does it mean to you?

I really like some of the social networking tools that are out there and the community generated content. I’ve actually licensed a social networking tool (introNetworks) for my website but use it as a business directory because it’s such a powerful and cool visual way to profile and list.

- What are your favourite mobile user-generated content projects?

I like some of the tourism/spots of interest sites available in some cities, and others to help find local restaurants etc.

- Do you develop technology yourself?

I’m better at helping others develop technology. The development is only 10% of the battle, 90% is getting the right product, having the right partnerships and commercializing it.

- How do you see the future of mobile?

Wireless is in Progress, so stay tuned for more ways it changes the way we work and play – a bit of a cliché, but it really is the most pervasive technology. Consumers are getting it now via the cell phone, but wait until industry catches on to all the ways to make business faster and smarter.

- What do you think about the Fixed-Mobile-Internet convergence?

The service providers need to be much more agile to deal with this move from being fast followers to early adopters. A friend of mine recently got involved in a company called JaJah – this will turn a few more business models on its head as it eliminates the need for extra equipment – something my parents could figure out!

- 3G vs. Wi-Fi?

Software-defined Radio isn’t too far behind, then it will know what we want, when and where we want to be connected. Will make Muni wifi much easier to setup.

- What is gonna be the next *big thing* in mobile?

I’ve totally in love with sensors.

- The mobile trend for this year?

I’ve got my hopes for A-GPS / location based services.

- Who inspires you professionally?

Technical entrepreneurs – those who are willing to go out on a limb, create a business, see the future of technology whilst keeping their fingers crossed.

- Your favorite mobile technology blog?

There are more and more great mobilists out there. As a networker, I’d have to go with who I know – m-trends.org (you are here!), Mobhappy and Mobilecrunch (with Oliver Starr!).

- Your favorite mobile device?

Tough choice between the Blackberry and Garmin Streetpilot

- Favorite mobile application/service?

It’s got to be the Mobile GPS apps for roadmaps – it’s profoundly affected the way I do business travel – relaxed!! I can easily figure out where I am going and get their on time. Can’t wait for bigger deployment of A-GPS – as securing the GPS coordinates in a downtown core can be a bit tricky.

- Your ultimate dream scenario including mobile?

I’m keen on contextually aware applications integrating with the mobile advice – knowing my interests, who I want to/not want to talk to, helping me to figure out activities, places to go/stay when I get to a new place.

- Which links would you like to be included?

The Wireless Innovation Network Britich Columbia (WINBC)

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

There is some great technology and applications coming from emerging companies. They may not promote it as hard/sophisticated as some of the bigger companies, but the are worth spending time to evaluate.

- Who else could you recommend to be interviewed next?

I recently met Elizabeth Riegel of the Gold Standard Group, and thought she was a really cool business women, not sure she is a blogger, but I’m certain she’d have interesting content.

On my way, thanks Caroline!

My first thought to start this years’ 3GSM wrapup was to check what I wrote last year: “It took me a couple of days to be able to digest the whole event with it’s many cocktails and parties surrounding. The best part for me were the many wonderfull people I met behind the companies, projects and blogs.” I couldn’t find any better paragraph to resume’s this year event. Check the image (left) I took from the same spot as last year and notice that the telecom world is still a Man’s Man’s Man’s World. I invite you to find the women on the image… This incited me to continue my “Women in Mobile” interviews

Does this mean it was boring? Not really…too many interesting people around to talk to and change opinion with… No big news coming from the exhibition either: no real differences with last years’ show apart from more people, 60.000 (!) and an extra Mobile Content pavillon, but one could tell from small things that changes are (finally?) to come. Let’s have a closer look at all things mobile.

DEVICES
On the handset side, no real innovations as last years’ Nokia Nseries, but a lot of improvements by many manufacturers and cool handsets I got the chance to play with.

Nokia N95 and the new Nokia Communicator E90 lanched at 3GSM, N95 is a real cool phone, I’m looking forward to the mobile apps that are going to play with the GPS functionality, the E90 Communicator is a really cool phone with many apps but honestly a bit too heavy for me. The LG Shine phone (check also the LG Prada phone) was surprisingly solid and extremely good in usability design, and the touchscreen… a big improvement with the Chocolate. I played around with the MOTORIZR Z8, it’s the first time since longtime I got a good feeling about a Motorola I would like to mention also the coming Samsung’s F700 Ultra Smart Phone, with touchscreen, slide-out qwerty keyboard and 5-megapixel camera(!) My favorite design phone goes to Sony-Ericcson with the W880i Walkman Phone (metallic edition), real cool as you can see on the picture here, cool design and easy usability.

Note that Blackberry is still very popular amongst business people in the telecom industry, not one conversation without having someone look at his BB or do something urgent with it. What about the real BB, guys?

You can view my 3GSM Flickr Photoset here.

Excellent interview from Régine Debatty with Cati Vaucelle at we make money not art. Asking Cati whether she’s a researcher, artist, designer, or something inbetween… Cati answers:

I am a knowledge shopper. I studied philosophy and fine arts, applied computer science, psychology, and computational linguistics starting in Paris with a B.S. in mathematics and economics. (…)

Some kind of digital bricoleur, Cati works together with m-trends.org contributor Yasmine Abbas exploring the design of a touch-sensitive dress for massage and sensory therapy.

The research focuses on the material - how the structure and the embedded components of the garment participate in pushing its function to become an envelope or cocoon for one’s well-being. Touch·Sensitive is a haptic apparel that allows massage therapy to be diffused, customized and controlled by people on the move. It provides individuals with a sensory and alerting cocoon.(…)

Can’t wait to get one of these!

Last year, as a starter for 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona, Stuart Mudie came up with the idea to get together with some other mobile bloggers. We hadn’t decided on a place to meet until one week before the event, since we wanted to consider any good suggestion for a cool bar…

Stuart just anounced he activated another wikipage to prepare for another informal MobileSunday Barcelona getting together in Barcelona. Expect some mobile passionates, mobilists and founders of MobileMonday chapters mixed with some healthy dose of ususal suspect bar-hangers. As for any good gathering, women (working) in mobile are highly appreciated to join us for a drink to keep some healthy gender equilibre in our sector.

If you want to kick off your week at 3GSM by attending “an unofficial, informal and generally cool and funky gathering of mobile bloggers and their chums”, simply add your name to the MobileSunday Barcelona wiki and turn up on the night, place to be anounced later.

If you like football (soccer!), FC Barcelona is playing that night and there will be screens for you to watch the game, in a true Barcelona tradition. Before and after the match, we will have partyStrands running.

FYI: Stuart will not be present this time but since we like some magic once in while, we’ll intend to connect with him in a non-presential, 21st-century mobile kind of way. Stay tuned for more details.

Sometimes one discovers blogs like rare pearls, usually not very known, a bit tucked away between the feeds of our information forest, yet often refreshing, thought-provoking, and stimulating our mobility senses. I stumbled a couple of times upon Yasmine’s blog while “re-searching” on augmented reality and mobility subjects.

I got intrigued by her “my body is a hypertext” and her takes on home + mobility baring in mind her multicultural background. I leave the discovery pleasure for you to learn about her explorations, meanwhile discover something more about Yasmine in this Women in Mobile interview.

Yasmine Abbas, is a French DPLG architect and holds a Master of Science in Architecture Studies from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. At MIT, she explored the spatial impact of new technologies. She is now a Doctor of Design from Harvard University Graduate School of Design (2006); at Harvard she focused on how neo-nomads reclaim a sense of belonging to places in the age of “multiple mobilities”. She founded neo-nomad, a digital platform dedicated to design and mobility in the digital world.

A neo-nomad herself, she carries “home” in two standard suitcases, each of 158cm (adding length, width, and height), and weighting 32kg maximum, as well as one additional carry on item of 55×40x20cm weighting a maximum of 10kg.

BACKGROUND / WORK

- Can you explain more about your work and background?

I am an architect, and a researcher. I am originally trained to build; yet building does not necessarily mean… partitioning. I have always been interested in the questions of ephemerality and mobility in architecture, ideas of flexibility and porous/extensible/flesh-like boundaries, the intersection between the digital and the physical; and all what that meant for the building environment. Long before I studied nomads, and came across the Plug-in Cities, Walking Cities and Instant City Airship projects of Archigram (1964, 1964, 1968), I had read Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities (1974) which I find rather close in terms of philosophy. I started experimenting with my design looking at theater machinery—mechanical mobility, and social mobility. Later at MIT, I explored Intelligent Kinetic Systems, in designing responsive structures (building models with Lego sensors and motors that we had to program—small programming). Because I am a cultural hybrid, and because I have lived in different countries, and traveled a fair amount, I understand “building” as something different than producing rigid walls, or backdrops for projections. At Harvard I have been working on neo-nomads, digitally geared travelers and how they dwell-in. Recreating a sense of home in any space that looks like a hotel room is a matter of relations between people, objects and spaces. These relations are clearly a matter of habits, and usages. For that matter, I have developed acute “soft” skills and a method of analysis, what I call ethNOMOgraphy (from the Greek root “Nomos” which means nomad) because it involves doing ethnography while on the move through “moblogging” and “hypertexting.” I have also suggested scenarios of usage like the HOmeTEL which explores the remote spatial appropriation of a hotel room, using digital means.

- Are you more social, business or technical oriented?

So far and in order of interest the social orientation has come first, then business, and technical. However, to me, an understanding of the three is critical because if everyone has a role to play in a multidisciplinary environment (to share a strong orientation), being able to communicate within the workplace or to any other actor of public change is even more important. I can say that my background is an asset because everything, from social to physics can inspire architects, and we learn very early to work together to build for people and understand contemporary demands. I am myself particularly interested in today’s everyday and how people mark their territory, which has shrunk beyond skin in the age of the Internet and ubiquitous computing… Design (and we are responsible for designing far more than objects or architecture; when coming up with the iPod for example, Apple, envisioned a new life style; it is a total revolution) must address the fact that the contemporary is a “moving target” (to use the words of a scholar I have worked for); thus design has also to do to with the notion of “what is essential” in life… now—and paradoxically what will stay essential across time; hence my focus on people, the everyday, technology, the multiple mobilities (mental, physical and digital) and nomads, because of their acute sense of adaptation and their understanding of what is necessary to carry; what is home when on the move.

I am in fact calling for a design responsibility! I am questioning for example the building of traditional office towers (often environmentally hazardous) as a workplace when work practices have changed: people work from home, consult abroad, work in teams of specialist localized in different countries… Another example… what is the shape of the library of the future when Google collaborate with prestigious schools to produce a digital library? My work on neo-nomad, the digitally geared individuals, synthesizes these observations by observing “hypertextual” practices, social (as Francois Ascher has noted), but also spatial. We have to think about people throughout all the processes of design and development.

- What brought/brings you into mobile?

What brought me to mobile is trying to understand this very human need for wanting to be grounded, and how people were actually doing it in this age of multiple mobilities that we are building… Always asking… if there is one thing that you would take with you, what would it be, and why? I think we are entering a post-consumerist society. We are going beyond the threshold of the technology craze. We actually can reflect on the applications and use them wisely. More and more people rent and use cars (they share public goods) only when they need it, and are used to changing places, spaces, collecting places, tags and information. Interestingly, one of my research points develops the fact that the digital (paradoxically) relates to the bio~ (body/biology/ecosystem/organism) as neo-nomads use responsive objects, spaces, technology and services… when they need it. Understanding where all this leads, how all this happens involves other skills and methods of inquiry than purely technical ones. My interest in mobile also comes from the observation that we have always wanted a freedom/flexibility of movements, though for sure we are bound to t he infrastructure we build for it.

DIGITAL LIFESTYLE

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

I have realized also how much I could pack efficiently, if I could store digitally all my paper work. I still need to keep physical administrative documents. Really… it is piling… I don’t like stuff. That is what digital nomadology does to me.

In terms of travel, I like being stress-free… booking ahead of time, my iPod to “tune-out” (said one of my interviewees; Harvard Doctor of Design Research), being able to connect or just linger (I have my habits), observing, doing my field work, and maybe “moblogging”. I like to disconnect as well, but I am an Internet junkie and it is hard to quit. My Blog has been an essential research tool. It enables me to collect links, moments (situations), formulate my thoughts, publish my work, and connect with researchers in the same field. If I don’t debate ideas with them over blog comments, we often do pursue that through e-mails. I don’t mind sharing my ideas with people, leaving them on open-source, but not many are careful at acknowledging from where they come from.

- Which tools you use to publish, blog or moblog your work? Which applications and services do you use regularely on your phone? Would you use your device to interact with other machines?

I would be happy if I did not have to carry a cellphone, an iPod, a digital camera, an umbrella? , my numerous transportation tickets, ID and bank/store cards… A hybrid phone… My cellphone IS my purse (that is an interesting integrated design challenge!). So you just swipe your bag to go through gates. The advantage of a bag as opposed to a tattoo (see my body is a hypertext project) or a chip under your skin is that the former can be put aside. I like the idea of being able to disconnect… well… to still have a little control, however illusionary, over unwanted intrusions. I would download mp3 on my phone, and maybe text or e-mail, share them with my friends. I would like to get the latest NOKIA… but apparently, even if I purchase it, it wouldn’t be used at its very best here in the USA, because of the infrastructure! Not that I like advertising for this or that brand, but I have experienced the comfortable usability of their product long time ago… Isn’t it also interesting to think how the notion of territoriality shifts with the digital?

- Would you download mp3 tunes on your phone? Share them with friends? Any thoughts on DRM?

In terms of Digital Restriction Management… people expect being able to get information. So companies owe to give a minimum.

- What about Mobile TV?

I like too much observing people for watching movies or programs while on the move, immobile in a moving train. Yet I recall that summer inviting friends over for diner in the backyard, hanging white sheets, a mobile computer plugged to a projector and speakers. Someone in the yard nearby shouted “you are the best neighbors ever”! So I guess, Mobile TV, if it can allow their usability/spatial extensions for times of rest in any spatial setting, without having to carry much…

GEEK STUFF

- What about Web 2.0? Do you use it? What does it mean to you? Does/will these evolutions influence mobile technology?