Apple may be looking to launch its own mobile data service (USA)
US giant Apple may be planning another surprise for its iPhone and iPad users. According to a report by Slashgear, Apple may be planning to offer mobile data services across the USA for the likes of the iPhone and iPad.
As per the report, Apple currently has more than a massive 250 million credit card numbers on file through iTunes, and iTunes has the ability to take payments just as easily as any mobile carrier in the United States today. The difference is that groups like Verizon and T-Mobile own their own spectrum. Apple would have to either have plans in place to purchase spectrum or would have had to already have purchased spectrum to make this work inside 2012 – and that’s not news you can easily keep under wraps.
Malicious software invades the Apple app store (USA)
Recent reports reveal that security expert and hacker Charlie Miller has created a malicious software to reveal the vulnerabilities in Apple Inc.’s app store. According to reports, the code which had been deigned to look similar to a stock price tracker was able to steal data, and was a serious threat to the app store.
As per sources, the company included the program to its iTunes app store a couple of months back. Mr. Miller recently revealed that the code included malware which was able to remotely download pictures and contacts. He reportedly said that a recent upgrade in Apple’s operating system allowed the InstaStock app to add non-approved code to the installed apps.
Industry analysts have reportedly listed this as the most significant threat to Apple’s app store, and have hinted that while Apple’s security is still better than most of its rivals, this may not be the last malicious software for the tech giant.
Apple to permit apps publishers’ access to users personal details
A change in the iTunes terms and conditions has been detected that for the first time will allow Apple to pass the personal details of apps purchasers to the apps publisher.
The key change to the T&Cs noted that Apple may ask for your permission to provide the name, e-mail address and zip code listed in your Account to the Licensor so that it can send you marketing messages about its own products in accordance with its publicly posted privacy policy.
The information that can be passed includes the users name, their email address, and their postal (or zip) code.
Although Apple still asks permission first, it is nonetheless a significant change in privacy policies from the company. It also marks a change in attitude from the company which is increasingly seen as trying to ensure it controls communications and 3rd-party sales transactions which might affect content on Apple devices.
Most interestingly, the use of personal information is not protected by Apple privacy policies, but by the third-party, who’s privacy policies could be quite lax, and which you are not able to easily verify before approving the change in the terms and conditions.
Apple to launch iPhone Mobile payment service
Apple Inc. is planning to introduce services that would let customers use their iPhone and iPad computer to make purchases.
According to sources, the services are based on Near-Field Communication, a technology that can beam and receive information at a distance of up to 4 inches, due to be embedded in the next iteration of the iPhone for AT&T Inc. and the iPad 2. Both products are likely to be introduced this year.
Sources revealed that Apple’s service may be able to tap into user information already on file, including credit-card numbers, iTunes gift-card balance and bank data. That could make it an alternative to programs offered by such companies as Visa Inc., MasterCard Inc. and EBay Inc.’s PayPal. It would make a lot of sense for Apple to include NFC functionality in its products.
The main goal for Apple would be to get a piece of the $6.2 trillion Americans spend each year on goods and services. Today, the company pays credit-card processing fees on every purchase from iTunes. By encouraging consumers to use cheaper methods — such as tapping their bank accounts directly, which is how many purchases are made via PayPal — Apple could cut its own costs and those of retailers selling Apple products.
Nokia to end free music downloads in 27 Countries
World’s top Cellphone maker, Nokia, is ending its bundling of free music downloads with cell phones in 27 countries, where it has gained little traction since its 2008 launch.
Nokia will continue to sell phones with 12-month subscription to free music downloads in China, India and Indonesia and with 6-month subscriptions in Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.
All four major labels – Vivendi’s Universal Music, EMI, Warner Music Group and the music arm of Sony, signed up for the service, which was seen at start as a major challenger for Apple’s iTunes.
Reasons behind the lackluster performance include use of older supporting handsets for the product at its launch and the use of DRM software that tied downloaded music to the device. The service was also said to be difficult to explain to customers in a simple marketing campaign.
According to Nokia’s spokesperson, the markets clearly want a DRM-free music service, the firm continues to offer DRM-free tracks through its music store in 38 countries.
The service will be closed down in a total of 27 countries, although it will continue until the current subscriptions expire.
Apple IPad users unwilling to pay for Entertainment
New survey has revealed that the iPad is still a ways off from becoming a fourth screen and creating new revenue streams for content providers. A survey of 205 iPad owners and users, the report found early adopters are not demonstrating unique behaviors: six of the seven top reported activities are familiar ones, like web surfing and email.
The report also found that 76% of owners use the iPad at least five days a week, while 55% of owners use the device everyday.
But these users are bringing the free Internet mindset to the iPad, and only a small portion of users is willing to pay for content. This is a trend worth watching, as the iPad’s advertising-supported media model is different from that of any other medium, since iPad users must register with iTunes, providing much personally identifiable information through a pay wall. At the same time, Apple’s iAd advertising product can be purchased only through Apple, creating an entirely different advertising ecosystem that industry analysts are watching closely.
Early-adopters are currently treating the iPad as an Internet appliance. Media companies and other content creators cannot assume that iPod behaviors – purchasing content for the device – will be immediately transferred to the iPad. In early-adopter group, it was seen that iPad users prefer an ad-supported model over a pay model to gain access to content. At this point, a pay-for-content model would appeal only to a niche group of consumers.
Ironically, users who watch TV episodes or movies on their iPads most often learn about them from branded apps created by services like YouTube, Netflix and SlingBox. Word-of-mouth, typically the most common information source, came in second in the survey, just ahead of TV network apps, with iTunes mentioned less.
The study also shows that 70% of iPad owners/users have read an e-book on the device; 61% electronic magazine or journal; and 51% have watched network TV programs. Yet only 13% of iPad owner/users would be willing to pay extra for an iPad-friendly version of a magazine or TV show they already pay for in its standard format (such as a cable or magazine subscription).
Apple unveils ‘Find My Friends’ social feature
Apple has introduces a new feature that is the location-based tool called Find My Friends in the works for its iOS 4.3 iPhone and iPad update.
Although it’s not included in the developers’ beta that was released earlier today, screengrabs from the new Settings app reveal the existence of the Find My Friends feature.
A “Find My Friends” feature will allow MobileMe to justify its high annual $99 cost although; no one would probably get MobileMe to benefit from a social networking feature.
A location-based social networking service will pit Apple against Foursquare, Google Latitude, Facebook Places and to a certain extent Twitter.
Apple has already started social features in many of its services including Ping for music and GameCenter but they currently operate in an Apple controlled environment (either iTunes or iOS).
The other theory is that the “Find My Friends” could be used for Apple’s iAd platform for location based services.
MobileMe
MobileMe keeps your mail, contacts, and calendar information in the cloud and uses push technology to keep everything in sync across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, and the web automatically. So no matter where you go or which device you use, all your information is up to date — no docking required.
SK Telecom set to spend immensely on mobile software
SK Telecom Co, South Korea’s top mobile carrier will spend US$894 million over the next three years to develop its own mobile software like Facebook, Google Maps and iTunes for smart phone users home and abroad.
According to Chief Executive Jung Man-won, the investment will be mostly allocated in research and development, to support the creation of smart phone applications and services that will work on various mobile operating systems (OS), as well as SK Telecom’s own proprietary mobile OS.
The company’s CEO also stated that in the mid to long-term, the wireless operator will build its own proprietary mobile OS to fend off the increasing control by mobile OS creators, such as Apple and Google.
SK Telecom is also planning to build a wide range of mobile software from maps, social networking, instant messaging, commerce and content exchange store that are adapted, distributed and created into thousands of smart phone applications by developers.
According to the company’s statement, what the Korean wireless carrier aims to provide will be akin to the services offered by non-telecom companies like Google Inc., Facebook Inc. and Apple Inc.
The company will unveil the so-called application programming interface (API) of the company’s maps, music store and other services, to invite developers to create applications based on them, which the company hopes will attract more smart phone users and enrich their phone experience.
SK Telecom is setting its prospects on markets in the United States, China and Southeast Asia as developers use its software.
GetJar facilitates 50 million Facebook Mobile app downloads
In the past six months, GetJar has witnessed over 50 million people downloading Facebook’s mobile app from it. It has claimed to be the second-largest applications store worldwide and second only to Apple’s iTunes.
Consumers can download the app which gives them a fast and easy shortcut to access Facebook’s mobile website with a single click from their phone with GetJar’s App Download Page (ADP) and Mobile Site Shortcut (MSS).
There are over 400 million users of Facebook around the world and the number of people who want to connect through Facebook from their mobile device is considerably increasing.
Goober Network launches free IM, VoIP apps for iPhone
Goober Networks has launched two new apps for iPhone- an IM app, Goober and a VoIP app Goober VoIP. These apps allow users to send and receive messages, and manage Goober Galleries. The VoIP app also enables cheap calls over the Internet to landlines and cell phones, starting at $.01 per minute.
It operates over Wi-Fi and 3G and a customer can call for free for the first two minutes. The other prominent features include caller ID, and payment via a user’s iTunes account.
According to Goober Networks CEO Peter Uhlich, Goober VoIP and goober for the iPhone has brought the company one step closer to meeting their goal as the most advanced and unifying communications solution on the market today, allowing businesses, enterprises and consumers to publish, connect and share content and communication from a single point, anytime, anywhere.
