Mobile Working Experiences
The realities of remote working
Tuesday 27 November 2007, 2:47 PM
Blackberry to go consumer?
Very interesting to read on zdnet that Blackberry are launching a touch screen device in '08 signalling a renewed interest in the consumer market and potentially hotting up the iPhone race.
Of course, the Pearl was launched with a campaign also targeted at extending usage into the lucrative consumer space (remember the 'it would be a shame to use it just for business...' ads?). I may be mistaken but has anyone seen hordes of young, consumer-type users proudly showing off their BBs?
This leads me to question the wisdom of trying to launch another product to this market...
At its core - Blackberry is an excellent business device - it provides push email plus all the organiser functions a business person needs. It has the potential of offering mobilised applications as well (when these materialise). But let's face it - it has never been a sexy device, the early models were chunky and often worn in a frankly worrying belt holder. The later models are better but still lack any obvious coolness (except for the core function). Finally the brand- to me this is a classic business brand, up there with the Thinkpad, Tumi luggage, Mont Blanc, British Airways and hell, even the Economist.
Am I being unfair on Blackberry? I am sure there are examples of brands who manage to maintain a profitable business and consumer presence. However as the mobile email market reaches a critical phase of comeptition why mess with such a successful business model? Business users do have different needs from mobile devices, a quality keyboard, good battery life and robust design and OS. That is why I am not sure the iPhone has great business potential outside creative, media types who already use Powerbooks. Any expansion into consumer markets would need very careful management....
Am I mis-reading the approach? are there loads of consumers waiting for a BB?
Of course, the Pearl was launched with a campaign also targeted at extending usage into the lucrative consumer space (remember the 'it would be a shame to use it just for business...' ads?). I may be mistaken but has anyone seen hordes of young, consumer-type users proudly showing off their BBs?
This leads me to question the wisdom of trying to launch another product to this market...
At its core - Blackberry is an excellent business device - it provides push email plus all the organiser functions a business person needs. It has the potential of offering mobilised applications as well (when these materialise). But let's face it - it has never been a sexy device, the early models were chunky and often worn in a frankly worrying belt holder. The later models are better but still lack any obvious coolness (except for the core function). Finally the brand- to me this is a classic business brand, up there with the Thinkpad, Tumi luggage, Mont Blanc, British Airways and hell, even the Economist.
Am I being unfair on Blackberry? I am sure there are examples of brands who manage to maintain a profitable business and consumer presence. However as the mobile email market reaches a critical phase of comeptition why mess with such a successful business model? Business users do have different needs from mobile devices, a quality keyboard, good battery life and robust design and OS. That is why I am not sure the iPhone has great business potential outside creative, media types who already use Powerbooks. Any expansion into consumer markets would need very careful management....
Am I mis-reading the approach? are there loads of consumers waiting for a BB?
Wednesday 21 November 2007, 11:17 PM
Upbeat Arun - with insight on mobile future and even the iPhone!
Earlier this week - the FT published a long interview with Arun Sarin, CEO of Vodafone. There are some interesting insights into the future of mobile services and into Arun's outlook.
Vodafone, like other operators, have their sights firmly fixed on growing revenues from data services - already 20% of their revenues are generated from data and this proportion is expected to grow. Arun went further to stress the importance of advertising revenues as a component of this growth, recognising that Vodafone needs to mine new revenue streams.
The future of mobile pricing was also discussed, over the next 5-10 years we can expect to see a gradual shift to 'all you can eat' flat rate mobile voice tariffs similar to those already in place for mobile data. Arun admits the reality of this type of pricing despite the difficulties in applying a level playing field to such varied usage levels.
Interesting that Arun does not see any risk to Vodafone being reduced to a pipe, or conduit for mobile services as with the fixed line providers. He pinpoints location as the key USP held by the mobile suppliers - handset companies and other tech vendors can launch new services but will never be able to link this to the individual location of a user - so we can expect to see Vodafone pushing more location based services.
Good to see Arun being realistic about the Mobile Internet - sure he wants people to use Vodafone Live! but his second priority is to enable the Mobile Internet, wherever users will roam.
Finally, Arun can't resist taking a swipe at the iPhone. Admitting that he owns an iPhone he is far from impressed - in areas without wireless access he describes the usage experience as very limited. Could be seen as sour grapes because Vodafone missed out on the iPhone deal, but he is quick to promote the value of the Nokia - Vodafone tie up and does not rule out more partnerships with content and service providers.... watch this space....
Under Arun's stewardship, Vodafone has been turned around from a difficult time with a lot of shareholder pressure and even rumours of it being a takeover candidate. Now the share price is at 3 year highs, they are weighing up other acquisitions and Arun is even finding time to join us his son surfing or playing golf...
Vodafone, like other operators, have their sights firmly fixed on growing revenues from data services - already 20% of their revenues are generated from data and this proportion is expected to grow. Arun went further to stress the importance of advertising revenues as a component of this growth, recognising that Vodafone needs to mine new revenue streams.
The future of mobile pricing was also discussed, over the next 5-10 years we can expect to see a gradual shift to 'all you can eat' flat rate mobile voice tariffs similar to those already in place for mobile data. Arun admits the reality of this type of pricing despite the difficulties in applying a level playing field to such varied usage levels.
Interesting that Arun does not see any risk to Vodafone being reduced to a pipe, or conduit for mobile services as with the fixed line providers. He pinpoints location as the key USP held by the mobile suppliers - handset companies and other tech vendors can launch new services but will never be able to link this to the individual location of a user - so we can expect to see Vodafone pushing more location based services.
Good to see Arun being realistic about the Mobile Internet - sure he wants people to use Vodafone Live! but his second priority is to enable the Mobile Internet, wherever users will roam.
Finally, Arun can't resist taking a swipe at the iPhone. Admitting that he owns an iPhone he is far from impressed - in areas without wireless access he describes the usage experience as very limited. Could be seen as sour grapes because Vodafone missed out on the iPhone deal, but he is quick to promote the value of the Nokia - Vodafone tie up and does not rule out more partnerships with content and service providers.... watch this space....
Under Arun's stewardship, Vodafone has been turned around from a difficult time with a lot of shareholder pressure and even rumours of it being a takeover candidate. Now the share price is at 3 year highs, they are weighing up other acquisitions and Arun is even finding time to join us his son surfing or playing golf...
Wednesday 14 November 2007, 10:04 PM
Vodafone - is the outlook as rosy as it seems?
Contrasting views on the mobile sector today...
Vodafone's share price has risen to almost £2 on the back of a very upbeat financial statement yesterday. After reporting the biggest corporate loss in history just 12 months ago they have turned this around to report a £4.6bn pre-tax profit in the first half of 06-07. True to say that the accountants have been juggling the figures and much of the change is due to a write down in assets that was performed last year. Nonetheless I am really pleased to see a UK origin operator producing an impressive return to form without having to change CEO like a premiership team changing manager.
A significant factor has been a dramatic surge in data revenues - up 45% year on year. Basically we all have embraced the mobile internet, we are plugging in our datacards in far away places and see mobile data as a jolly fine thing. Although there is one small cloud on the horizon that is not mentioned in today's FT report - the same EU legislation that has reduced voice revenues from roaming is set to be extended to data services so the revenues from international data use will reduce over the next 12-24 months.
Aside from Vodafone's accounts - the other interesting story in the FT today was from the head of China Mobile. He pinpointed a key emerging trend in the sector - the growing threat to operators from handset manufacturers and internet companies who will start to eat into the carrier's control of revenues. The launch of the iPhone, Google's Android platform and Nokia's own music store all show that these big players are no longer content to wait on the sidelines whilst the operators jostle for market share - 'if the mobile phone industry doesn't respond with highly competitive offerings they're going to watch their share of opportunity diminish..'
Are we set to see the mobile networks reduced to carriers - simply a conduit for traffic?
Which companies would you bet on having the most control over the future of mobile comms? O2? Vodafone? Nokia? Microsoft? or Google?
Vodafone's share price has risen to almost £2 on the back of a very upbeat financial statement yesterday. After reporting the biggest corporate loss in history just 12 months ago they have turned this around to report a £4.6bn pre-tax profit in the first half of 06-07. True to say that the accountants have been juggling the figures and much of the change is due to a write down in assets that was performed last year. Nonetheless I am really pleased to see a UK origin operator producing an impressive return to form without having to change CEO like a premiership team changing manager.
A significant factor has been a dramatic surge in data revenues - up 45% year on year. Basically we all have embraced the mobile internet, we are plugging in our datacards in far away places and see mobile data as a jolly fine thing. Although there is one small cloud on the horizon that is not mentioned in today's FT report - the same EU legislation that has reduced voice revenues from roaming is set to be extended to data services so the revenues from international data use will reduce over the next 12-24 months.
Aside from Vodafone's accounts - the other interesting story in the FT today was from the head of China Mobile. He pinpointed a key emerging trend in the sector - the growing threat to operators from handset manufacturers and internet companies who will start to eat into the carrier's control of revenues. The launch of the iPhone, Google's Android platform and Nokia's own music store all show that these big players are no longer content to wait on the sidelines whilst the operators jostle for market share - 'if the mobile phone industry doesn't respond with highly competitive offerings they're going to watch their share of opportunity diminish..'
Are we set to see the mobile networks reduced to carriers - simply a conduit for traffic?
Which companies would you bet on having the most control over the future of mobile comms? O2? Vodafone? Nokia? Microsoft? or Google?
Monday 12 November 2007, 9:41 PM
iPhone - where next?
The iPhone launch has sparked more debate in our office than any recent news from the tech sector. Advocates and detractors have been at loggerheads by the watercooler getting their point across....
What seems certain is that it will be the hottest christmas seller of '07 - the £269 price tag will deter few of the first wave of buyers. 200k unit sales in the first two months predicted by O2 CEO seems over-cautious, analysts have forecast closer to 400k units - closer to the 1m sold in the US during the first 74 days after launch. That stat made it the fastest selling phone in history - beating the RAZ-R by some margin.
However - phone sales are like games console sales- for a true reflection of demand we have to look beyond the initial PR-fuelled surge. Here is the nagging question...
- Will UK consumers be prepared to fork out £269 for a phone when they are familiar with paying zero for a subsidised handset? (even the Prada phone is available with a £35 tariff)
Anyone signing up today will be paying at least £880 for the phone and their contract - in return they get a measly 200 monthly free mins..
Wisely - Apple are creaming the premium from the market - but I predict that by March next year there will be a substantial price drop - maybe as far as £199. Why? it is widely known that O2 swallowed a 10-20% contract revenue share deal with Apple in order to guarantee an exclusive UK distribution deal. Given that they are making so little from the initial sale and contract - they must be looking for critical mass in terms of a user base, to achieve that, the entry price will have to reflect the 2nd wave demand before the competitors start to divert attention from the iPhone.
Rightly - O2 are in it for the long game, they recognise that iPhone buyers are not your regular phone users, they are the holy grail of HVC (High value customers) - the mobile users with higher average bills. As soon as Apple iron out the current teething problems (lack of flash player and 3G connectivity amongst others) usage levels should unlock excellent revenue potential for O2, from a user base that are very, very unlikely to switch network in current conditions.
So - don't be a surprised to see a price drop next year, but don't be surprised to see the iPhone dominate the 'must have' list for some time to come...
What seems certain is that it will be the hottest christmas seller of '07 - the £269 price tag will deter few of the first wave of buyers. 200k unit sales in the first two months predicted by O2 CEO seems over-cautious, analysts have forecast closer to 400k units - closer to the 1m sold in the US during the first 74 days after launch. That stat made it the fastest selling phone in history - beating the RAZ-R by some margin.
However - phone sales are like games console sales- for a true reflection of demand we have to look beyond the initial PR-fuelled surge. Here is the nagging question...
- Will UK consumers be prepared to fork out £269 for a phone when they are familiar with paying zero for a subsidised handset? (even the Prada phone is available with a £35 tariff)
Anyone signing up today will be paying at least £880 for the phone and their contract - in return they get a measly 200 monthly free mins..
Wisely - Apple are creaming the premium from the market - but I predict that by March next year there will be a substantial price drop - maybe as far as £199. Why? it is widely known that O2 swallowed a 10-20% contract revenue share deal with Apple in order to guarantee an exclusive UK distribution deal. Given that they are making so little from the initial sale and contract - they must be looking for critical mass in terms of a user base, to achieve that, the entry price will have to reflect the 2nd wave demand before the competitors start to divert attention from the iPhone.
Rightly - O2 are in it for the long game, they recognise that iPhone buyers are not your regular phone users, they are the holy grail of HVC (High value customers) - the mobile users with higher average bills. As soon as Apple iron out the current teething problems (lack of flash player and 3G connectivity amongst others) usage levels should unlock excellent revenue potential for O2, from a user base that are very, very unlikely to switch network in current conditions.
So - don't be a surprised to see a price drop next year, but don't be surprised to see the iPhone dominate the 'must have' list for some time to come...
