IPhone tops chart of developer’s platform
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: According to a latest survey, 55% of developers build their applications for the Apple iPhone OS. The list is followed by RIM BlackBerry OS, Android and Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5. In the same survey conducted last year, Windows Mobile was by far the most popular OS.
2.4 separate platforms currently developed by the developers are expected to increase to 3.4 over the next 12 months. More than half of developers consider multi-touch to be important or essential to application development, making a whole wealth of devices inadequate by this standard.
Apple’s iPhone OS also topped the chart of the list of developer’s future planning with more than half of those not currently developing for the platform planning to in the next 12 months. Google’s Android and BlackBerry OS were the other in the chart which the programmers were planning to start supporting.
AT&T new iPhone to be unveiled in June (USA)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The launch of the new iPhone 4G/HD has been confirmed by the USA- based telecom operator, AT&T in June. The official information about the launch has been confirmed after a long spell of speculations and the employees of the company have been announced that there will be a new iPhone and it will hit the stores in June.
The handset is expected to be unveiled in the early June itself straight after the WWDC event and Apple’s unveiling. The new iPhone model is well and truly on its way reason, discontinuation of the iPhone 3G and the drop in price of the iPhone 3GS at Walmart stores. The commercial for the new handset has been completed and the Apple iPhone 4G is expected to be announced at WWDC 2010 on June 7 at the Steve Jobs keynote.
Detailed information has not been provided by the company regarding a lot of exciting things like the new iPhone and the iPhone OS 4. A sneak peak however might be provided at the upcoming Mac OSX 10.7.
Google AdMob versus Apple iAds- the battle begins
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Google’s purchase of AdMob got the regulatory green light after intense scrutiny to ensure the acquisition won’t make Google a de facto monopoly in mobile advertising. Google got extreme help from the upcoming launch of Apple iAds to clear the antitrust hurdle.
Diverse array of online services and moving parts is occupied by Google, hailed as just an emperor of online search engine. Advertising too act as a driving force for the company, reason why Google was so aggressive in outbidding Apple to acquire AdMob for $750 million.
Apple acquisition of Quattro for $275 million, less than half of what it had bid for AdMob also acted as spice as AdMob deal would have been blocked by the FTC out of fear that it gives Google too much of an advantage in the mobile advertising market.
According to FTC, the Commission has reason to believe that Apple quickly will become a strong mobile advertising network competitor as Apple not only has extensive relationships with application developers and users, but also is able to offer targeted ads (heretofore a strength of AdMob) by leveraging proprietary user data gleaned from users of Apple mobile devices.
Apple’s iPhone OS and Google’s Android OS are battling each other in the smartphone arena and the once allies against Microsoft have turned into biggest rivals with both the companies also fighting for the ad revenue generated on those mobile platforms. Click-to-call functionality will be included by Google in its mobile ads enabling advertisers to include a phone number directly in the ad text that users can simply click to contact the business directly via phone.
Apple on the other hand hopes to help developers monetize apps without the user having to leave the app to see the advertisement. Apple is structuring iAd with a revenue sharing model that pays 60 percent of ad revenue to the developer.
Apple launches iAd Mobile Ad Network
Apple has launched its iAd mobile advertising network, as part of a preview of its iPhone OS 4 software. The release also includes an updated Software Development Kit (SDK), with over 1,500 new APIs (Application Programming Interface) and over 100 new features.
As per Apple, iAd combines the emotion of TV ads with the interactivity of web ads. Apple will sell and host the ads, and give 60% of the revenue to app developers.
In the opinion of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, iPhone OS 4 is the fourth major release of the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. They are delivering over 100 new features, including multitasking, folders, a unified inbox, deeper Enterprise support, and an iPhone version of their iBooks reader and online iBookstore.
Smaato launches iPad SDK
Smaato, the mobile ad optimization firm has launched a new version of its iSOMA SDK (Software Development Kit) for iPad applications and mobile websites.
It is expected to support multiple new ad formats, including the Internet Advertising Bureau’s Universal Ad Package (UAP).
According to Smaato CEO & Co-Founder Ragnar Kruse, there is a lot of excitement in the mobile publishing market about the iPad and new features in the upcoming iPhone OS 4.0 release. The company is happy to continue their support for the iPhone platform and the iPad as the new addition to mobile device choices.
New iPhone OS improves ad capabilities
Apple has finally announced plans for the iAd platform and the iPhone OS 4, releasing a beta version of the software to its Developer Program members.
The release includes an updated Software Development Kit which has more than 1,500 new Application Programming Interfaces and about 100 new features that will be available to iPhone and iPod touch users this summer.
The highlights of the release include multitasking for third-party application, folders to better organize and access applications and enhanced enterprise support.
According to Dominique Jodoin, president/CEO of Bluestreak Technology, from multitasking to folders, the new functionality Apple previewed for the upcoming version of the 4.0 OS addresses many of the features loyal iPhone users have demanded since the device’s launch.
However the Flash support, which is a popular feature acoording to consumers is glaringly missing.
Apple to showcase iPhone & iPad OS today
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The latest version of Apple’s iPhone and iPad OS will be showcased by the company today. Addition of a universal email inbox is the only update flagged by Apple for inclusion in iPhone OS 4.0. However, as per the rumors, Apple is expected to finally introduce multitasking support, a feature that developers and users have been clamoring for a long time.
Support for higher resolutions than the 480×320 available on the iPad, enhanced voice-to-text features and integration with LaLa, the music streaming service Apple acquired in December are also expected to be included in the updates.
GPS navigation is also a possibility following Apple’s acquisition of mapping service. The carrier partner of the company, Verizon will market the device.
The iPhone Mobile Music Battle
The iPhone Web application arms race is on. A variety of companies are getting involved in developing applications that will bring their services to Apple devotees. While the platform is bringing competitors onto the same stage, everyone is trying to take a bite out of that Apple. Detente is nowhere in sight.
Recently, AOL threw its hat into the iPhone Web application ring and is offering CBS streaming radio to users. The AOL Radio powered by CBS Radio Web app was highlighted last week at Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference and won the award for “Best Entertainment Application.”
“We’re thrilled to be recognized by Apple for the work that has gone into AOL Radio for the iPhone,” said Kevin Conroy, executive vice president at AOL. “The APIs available in the iPhone SDK provided us with all the tools necessary to quickly create a terrific version of AOL Radio for the iPhone OS, and we’re looking forward to adding streaming radio to the many great experiences available to iPhone users.”
AOL Radio uses the iPhones Core Location Framework to detect the location of a user and patch into local CBS radio stations. The application also automatically detects the type of network a user is on—Wi-Fi or cell network—and adjusts the stream between low and high bandwidth.
The award brings weight to AOL’s self-professed goal to “Get back to the Mac.” Other AOL efforts include AOL Mobile Search, a new portal, and a Desktop for Mac.
Bringing streaming audio to the iPhone isn’t a new concept. NPR mobile already offers an application that allows users to get their news.
But streaming music has been more difficult for frustrated users of services like Last.FM and Pandora.
Last.FM is a social community where users can stream music to their machine and rate the music they listen to on iTunes. By rating music, Last.FM can learn preferences and stream music tailored to individual tastes.
According to the Web site, Last.FM uses an Audioscrobbler engine that allows “users to ‘scrobble’ their tracks to our servers, helping to collectively build the world’s largest social music platform.” Currently, MobileScrobbler is the only iPhone application that users can use in order to stream Last.FM to their device.
But MobileScrobbler comes with a catch: it can only be used on unlocked iPhones, meaning users run the risk of voiding their warranty and carrying an expensive piece of silicon and plastic around if something goes wrong.
Pandora has at least one intriguing scenario already in place for bringing streaming music to the iPhone. Writing on the Pandora blog in May 2007, Tom Conrad, CTO of Pandora, talked about getting Pandora on a mobile device.
“One of the most interesting startups in the Bay area right now is a company called Zing. They’re building a really cool platform that enables Wi-Fi-connected media players. They’re the company behind the new Wi-Fi-connected Sansa Connect media player,” wrote Conrad.
Conrad got in touch with Zing and worked with the company to take the Pandora Everywhere Platform and get it running on a Wi-Fi device. While Conrad demoed the product, he specifically noted that it wasn’t a product announcement and that there are no plans for a Pandora-specific mobile device.
And now, by clicking on the mobile tab on Pandora’s Web site, users are presented with the option of embedding Pandora on their mobile phone—so long as it is a device that supports the application and exists on the Sprint or AT&T network.
AT&T currently has an exclusive contract with Apple to provide services for the iPhone.
A quick search of Apple’s iPhone Web application page shows more than 25 pages of existing applications. A streaming music provider that creates an application that allows users to stream music to their iPhone would be in an advantageous position to capture part of the market.
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