January 6th, 2009 / No Comments » / by Jason Harris
iPod Touch Client
As eluded to in a prior post, Truphone has formally announced the availability of an exciting feature for the Truphone iPhone and iPod Touch client. An updated version of the software will make it possible to call and message your Skype contacts, all from within the Truphone application.
With the addition of Skype functionality, it’s apparent that Truphone wants to be a one stop communication tool for your iPhone and iPod Touch. By being able to interface with the largest PC-based peer to peer VoIP system, Truphone will gain a bevy of new users who want to use Truphone to talk to and message their Skype contacts.
For more perspective on this announcement, check out Alex Saunders take as well as Jim Courtney’s from Skype Journal.
Posted in: apple, mobile, voip
Tags: apple, iphone, ipod touch, skype, truphone, voip
January 4th, 2009 / No Comments » / by Jason Harris
In the world of mobile broadband access, there are three major players including Verizon Wireless, Sprint, and AT&T. In this landscape, Verizon Wireless and Sprint are known for having the largest network reach, meaning you can use your mobile broadband service in more geographies nationwide. AT&T has a 3G mobile broadband network but their 3G service is only available in major metropolitan areas.
I should note that T-Mobile, the fourth US-based cell phone network provider doesn’t have mobile broadband data service because their 3G network is now being slowly rolled out.
Using the Verizon Mobile Broadband network
For the sake of this post, I’m reviewing Verizon’s Mobile broadband service called BroadbandAccess. I trialed the Kyocera KPC 680 ExpressCard EV-DO Modem. This is a little card that plugs into the side of your laptop and allows you to hop on Verizon’s cellular based broadband network.
Using the latest generation MacBook Pro, I tried to get the KPC 680 to work. After downloading the drivers/software, I plugged the card into my MacBook Pro. After hours of frustration, a Verizon Representative was able to help me get online. Another note: I was able to get the KPC 680 to work on my Dell Windows XP laptop without a hitch using Verizon’s BroadbandAccess software.
I used the network primarily in Portland, Oregon and in the central Oregon towns of Bend and Sunriver Oregon. It should be known that Sunriver is a pretty rural part of the state, however I was able to get online and access all my Internet resources where I couldn’t get on a Wi-Fi network.
Network speeds varied depending on the signal quality of where I was located at the time. It isn’t as fast as your home cable modem or DSL connection, but the Verizon EV-DO network was definitely fast enough to browse websites, send emails, and connect to my companies network via VPN.
Conclusion
I would definitely recommend the Verizon Broadband EV-DO network combined with the KPC 680 ExpressCard modem. For business professionals and those needing to be online in multiple locations, the Verizon BroadbandAccess network is a fantastic option. Sure, we have coffee shops and libraries with sometimes-free Wi-Fi, but the speeds vary widely depending on that business’ wireless setup.
Having Verizon’s BroadbandAccess allows you to access the Internet quickly and easily and enough speed to do the tasks you need to do.
The Details:
The KPC 680 is available from Verizon Wireless website. At the time of writing this article, the modem itself is available for $50 after rebates and with a 2-year service agreement. The BroadbandAccess internet service comes in two pricing points, $40 for 50 megabytes or $60 for 6 gigabytes of monthly data throughput. For practical uses and ease of use, I’d recommend getting the $60/month plan.
Posted in: mobile, product reviews
Tags: BroadbandAccess, EV-DO, KPC680, mobile data network, product reviews, review, verizon-wireless
December 26th, 2008 / 3 Comments » / by Jason Harris
Nokia Knows How To Open Up For Social Media
A few weeks ago I was in Barcelona for Nokia World along with a group of other writers. I’ve had some thoughts over the last week about how companies and organizations are treating independent journalists that I’d to summarize.
Because I write online here at Techcraver.com and not for a “traditional” outlet such as newspaper or magazine, we independent online journalists are often seen as second-class when by large companies and organizations. As a result, I have a more difficult time A) getting access to high level executives for briefings, and B) getting equipment to review and evaluate.
I encounter this bias when working many with many different types of companies, with a few shining examples that are the opposite. One company that has embraced social media is Nokia and their practices and patterns should be emulated by any company or organization who is looking to engage social media for outreach purposes.
What Does Nokia Do That Is So Great?
There are a few efforts that Nokia employs to bring social media into the picture. These PR-type efforts include WOMWorld, a program which grants loan devices to bloggers and tracks the buzz in the blogosphere surrounding the current Nokia handset models. There is also the Nokia Blogger Relations program from Comunicano.
These are active engagements whereby the large Finnish mobile phone company has reached out to social media to generate attention with their products, gain feedback, and have a conversation surrounding their mobile handsets and services.
At the Nokia World conference, Nokia representatives were available, including key product managers from inside the company (including a Senior VP). I was able to meet with a variet of officials from throughout Nokia, including handsets, to services, and even corporate sustainability.
The Nokia Social Media team turned this huge monolithic company and organization into an open book for us to start conversations and adequately analyze the new offerings. They invited us to interview anyone from Nokia and arranged these meetings.
Another key facet to Nokia’s Social Media Team’s strategy: they’re engaging large, well known writers from larger blogs as well asless well-known, up and coming writers. Rather than just engaging outfits such as Engadget, Mobile Industry Review, and others, Nokia invites me along with other smaller Nokia writers as well. Very smart!
It is apparent to me that as a company, Nokia’s intent with engaging social media is to start conversations and appreciate feedback, both good and bad. The Nokia Social Media team takes negative feedback and routes it to the appropriate manager or team within the organization.
So in summary, Nokia has embraced social media by bringing us to the table, giving us access to different aspects of the organization, and appreciatively listening to what we have to say. More companies and organizations should use this approach, as there are benefits for both parties when it is employed.
What other organizations are doing a stellar job of interacting with and engaging social media? What approaches do they take that you feel should be repeated? I look forward to the comments!
Posted in: Op-Ed, mobile, nokia
Tags: communication, new media, nokia, social media, traditional media
December 17th, 2008 / No Comments » / by Jason Harris
Image Courtesy Flickr User akrobat77
After today’s little debacle regarding Michael Arrington and Techcrunch’s new stance on embargoes and Marshall Kirkpatrick’s response on ReadWriteWeb, I wanted to take my stance:
Without a doubt, I respect and will not break embargoes. So entrepreneurs, startups, and their respective PR firms, please pitch to me at my email address - I’m at jason <at> techcraver <dot> com.
I work with a few PR firms and get very relevant story pitches from them. I appreciate their time and want to get a heads up if a product or service is going to be announced. I won’t post everything, just things I feel are relavent to my audience and my interests…but please feel free to contact me when you have a product/service to promote.
Posted in: daily stuff, tech news/notes
Tags: pitches, PR, public relations, readwriteweb, startups, techcrunch
December 15th, 2008 / No Comments » / by Jason Harris
According to the Pew Internet and Americal life product and their recently released study, mobile phones will be the primary way people will get online by the year 2020.
According ot the technologists and thought leaders they asked, survey respondents thought the mobile phone would have a major stake in the way we live in the next decade.
I agree with the survey. As I have adopted a smartphone, I use my laptop much less and my iPhone carrying friends have reported the same behavioural change.
Being able to access email on your mobile and the web lessens the needs to be in front of your computer.
Posted in: mobile, useful info
Tags: mobile, mobile web
December 15th, 2008 / 2 Comments » / by Jason Harris
As a VoIP customer, I can attest that the number one factor that affects quality is network quality. Without an adequate pipe to route traffic, internet telephone (VoIP) calls sound terrible.
Photo Courtesy Flickr User FXR
According to The Register, potential VoIP business customers in the UK are avoiding the technologies because their internet connections to branch offices aren’t good enough to support VoIP network traffic.
Many of these business use ADSL as their link to the outside world and some research shows that many potential customers don’t think their network connections can handle the traffic. According to the survey mentioned in the Reg article, 54% of customers haven’t converted to VoIP for voice calling and 70% of these respondents do so because of ‘unreliable voice quality’.
If the network traffic troubles would subside, 90% of repondents would jump at the chance to go VoIP, in order to save calls.
If telcos would provide adequate Quality of Service or traffic prioritization, VoIP quality would increase and therefore, so would VoIP business.
Posted in: tech news/notes, voip
Tags: internet telephony, voip, voip_products
December 12th, 2008 / No Comments » / by Jason Harris
Acer has released an Acer One netbook (a very small notebook computer meant primarily for online productivity functions such as web surfing and email) that has a special caveat.
Image Courtesy WikiPedia
This Acer notebook has a special bargain basement price of $100, however by buying it, you’re agreeing to a two year data plan subscription/contract with AT&T.
That’s right, the lame US mobile network operators who are known for subsidizing cellular handsets have moved on to subsidizing netbooks as well.
So, in effect - this netbook will cost you $1540 over two years, not including taxes and other surcharges from AT&T.
My main issue is: most people are sick and tired of their mobile handset after two years and are yearning to get a new one - do you think you’re going to be happy with a netbook computer in two years?
The details on this netbook are as follows:
- Ultra-compact size measuring 9.8″ x 6.7″ x 1.1″ (W x D x H), 2.44 pounds
- Stylish piano-black finish
- Built-in 3G capability
- 802.11b/g wireless (Wi-Fi)
- 8.9-inch LCD screen
- Built-in Web cam
- Intel(R) Atom(TM) processor
- Windows XP Home
- 1GB memory
- 160GB hard drive
- Built-in memory card readers (dedicated SD and 5-in-1)
The computer definitely serves the needs of on-the-go business persons who need to be connected, especially if they aren’t always around wi-fi hotspots.
[specs found from Boy Genius Report]
Posted in: mobile, tech news/notes
Tags: acer, mobile, mobile-data-plans, mobile-internet
December 12th, 2008 / 1 Comment » / by Jason Harris
Photo Courtesy Flickr User subsurbanslice
I received word from a Nokia contact that the flaghip stores in New York City and Chicago are going to have a pretty amazing sale tomorrow.
30% off all devices and 20% off the newly released N79. Accessories will also be marked down. For instance, the BH 604 Bluetooth headset will be on sale $99 when normal price is $189.
To get the sales prices, you can just call the order in to the store for those of us who aren’t within a resonable distance of a Nokia flagship store.
This is a good way to get a deal on some great Nokia gear!
For more info, check out the official link.
Posted in: mobile, nokia
December 8th, 2008 / No Comments » / by Jason Harris
Nokia HQ - Photo Courtesy Flickr User rooreynolds
Nokia, the Finnish mobile giant, has arguably the most well-equipped mobile handsets in the industry. The N95 made waves two years go by offering an outstanding feature set including on-board GPS, a 5 megapixel camera, great video recording capabilities, dual action slider, and Wi-Fi connectivity. What has followed are other handsets both in the Nseries consumer line and the Eseries business line that also feature awesome hardware portfolio for on-the-go techies and business-types.
The Market Demands Good Customer Experience
In the mobile press I follow, Nokia is known for having fully featured handsets with a lackluster customer experience. It is known amongst Nokia users that advanced options and capabilities are hidden in a maze of menus. Additionally, common actions take 7-8 clicks to conduct.
iPhone fanatics revel in the Apple phone’s ease of use and take the iPhone’s lack of features in exchange for a fluid and easy-to-use experience with the device. With the 5800 XpressMusic and upcoming N97, Nokia has acknowledged that a touch interface is a good first step. However, a lesson Nokia needs to learn about the iPhone is: a touch interface is only part of the iPhone’s success, a sexy and superb user experience is the larger part of the equation. The same goes with Research in Motion and their Blackberry Storm.
The iPhone has changed the game in the mobile industry by making it so the average consumer demands more from the mobile. We now expect our mobile phones to be easy to use as well as fully functional.
Recent Examples
In the recent months, we have seen more examples of now Nokia has failed regarding consumer experience. For example, just a few months ago, the Finnish company refreshed their product line by offering the new “Flagship” N96. The update to the ubiquitous N95, the N96 added a few new features including DVB-H video, an added 16GB of memory, and a 2.8 screen on the piano black body.
However, the N96 is a pain to use because of its ridiculously poor firmware. In my experience, the N96 resets itself constantly, is slow when hopping on wireless networks, and hangs while composing messages. It was such a bad experience, I shelved the device. Friend Jonathan Greene also noted his frustration. The N96 software was so bad, it seemed as if Nokia released the monster superphone with test firmware. Off the record, my contacts inside Nokia have commented about the poor firmware and are embarrassed by it.
More recently, Nokia released Nokia Maps 3.0 and the corresponding Maps on Ovi service. Early accounts show that installing the Maps application is painful at best.
While we’re excited about new products and services, we as customers DEMAND that the experience be graceful and fluid. When Nokia charges $700 - $800 for a handset (in the case of the N96), customers have a right to demand a positive customer experience.
Drawing Parallels
For a similar situation, look at the desktop market.
Microsoft has always had a rock solid market share with deep roots amongst their customers. In recent years, they have failed in regards to customer experience. Windows computers are plagued with problems including driver issues, stability problems, and security issues. For the longest time, it seemed Redmond was oblivious to the plight of the average frustrated Windows user. Popularity in Apple products, as a result, has surged. Apple computers serve the same basic functions as a Windows computer, but with a much more enjoyable and effortless user experience.
What Can Be Done
So, is all hope lost? Has the boat left the dock? HECK NO!! The first thing Nokia can do is conduct adequate research and testing with user experience in mind. If the N96 firmware wasn’t ready to ship…why ship the device?! It should be known that the complaints against the N96 were not from a loud minority, rather were widespread across multiple audiences. The sad part is that many of the issues and complaints about the N96 were repeats of issues made known when the N95 was launched years earlier.
The N97 is coming out sometime in the first half of 2009. With the new device, Nokia has a huge opportunity to make a splash in the mobile handset market. My advice: Test, Test, Test. Engage with testers outside your traditional channels. If need be, Nokia has a blogger relations program set up - use this knowledgeable group to test the device in an in-depth manner. If the N97 release needs to be pushed back in the name of quality, then by all means - delay it! Customer experience demands it.
The US market is one where customer experience is even more important than in Nokia’s strongholds of Europe and Asia. Consumers here are finicky and not as likely to read manuals. Where the iPhone market share is strong, so is consumer demand of a positive experience with products we consume and buy. If Nokia wants to gain traction in North America, installation, use, and ongoing support of software and mobile services will be of most importance.
On the bright side, Nokia is a company who is chock full of imaginative engineers, designers, and marketers. I’m confident the Espoo can pull this feat off.
Posted in: Op-Ed, apple, microsoft, mobile, nokia, tech news/notes
Tags: apple, apple iphone, customer experience, iphone, macintosh, microsoft, N97, nokia, quality, windows
December 6th, 2008 / 9 Comments » / by Jason Harris
Earlier this week, an acquaintance of mine, Amber Case, posted a review of the newly announced Nokia N97 and applied some Cyborg Anthropology to the new handset.
This post is a friendly response to her article.
Keyboard Options
According to Amber’s post, the N97 has a weakness regarding an idea she calls “time value liability”. Meaning, basically, that because you have to open up the N97 to reveal it’s keyboard in order to enter data, the device is inherently weaker than the iPhone because the iPhone’s onscreen keyboard appears as you need it and hides when it’s not necessary, saving time.
N97
Having the opportunity to use the N97, I can refute this by assuring readers that the N97 has two options for data entry. First, if you want to use an onscreen keyboard, there is one that appears when necessary. In fact, the onscreen keyboard can be used both in landscape and portrait mode. Secondly, if you want to have more tactile feedback, you can use the flip-out physical keyboard.
Like the iPhone and mentioned in Amber’s post, the onscreen keyboard dissappears when it is not necessary for data entry.
Price
Yes, the price on the N97 is steep at €550. However, if you purchase an N97, you are buying an unlocked handset that can be taken on any GSM-compatible network. With the iPhone you pay $200-$300 for a phone that is locked to AT&T in the US (and differing networks depending on where you live). If you travel abroad and wish to use your phone for voice and data…you have to pay AT&T’s atrocious international data rates.
Keep in mind that when the iPhone first came out, it was $399 and $499 (and still locked to AT&T for two years). It was when the iPhone 3G was released that they lowered the price to currentl levels at $199 and $299 that AT&T raised the data plan rate $10, negating any actual savings over the life of your 24 month contract. So, in summary, the iPhone is only cheaper at purchase of the handset, not over the life of the service agreement.
Looking at the N97, there is no service contract.
People Have Differing Needs
The iPhone, when looked at objectively, is a one-size fits all solution. There are no options to get a keyboard-included model, no options if you want a higher quality camera, and no options for adding software not in the App Store. In fact, because Apple has crippled the Bluetooth stack, you can’t even add a Bluetooth keyboard, use Bluetooth to tether, or send contacts via Bluetooth.
Nokia, RIM BlackBerry and other handset makers offer models that give customers options as to what they want in a handset.
There are many cell phone customers who are avoiding the iPhone because it doesn’t have an physical keyboard. The N97 isn’t trying to be an iPhone killer, it’s merely another option for people to consider.
It must also be mentioned that the iPhone’s strengths are being shown by the N97. In fact, every cell phone manufacturer has been influenced by Apple’s entrance into the mobile market in a positive way.
Additional Factors To Consider
The N97 features a 5 megapixel camera that can shoot 16:9 video at 30 frames per second. Also, the N97 has 32GB of on-board memory.
Looking at the homescreen of the N97, you can add widgets to the front screen. This means I can add picture contacts of my most-used contacts, RSS feeds, Facebook messages, weather and lots more? Does Apple let you customize the home screen of your iPhone? No, it’s just a list of available applications.
Me? I’ll opt for flexibility and advanced hardware capabilities when it comes to choosing my mobile handset.
Posted in: apple, mobile, nokia, tech news/notes
Tags: apple iphone, iphone, N97, nokia, touch
