Windows phone 7 by Microsoft!!

{Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 can gain market-share throughout 2011 and beyond, provided it continues to add capabilities and applications, according to a new research note from IDC. |Much of that potential growth will rely on Microsoft’a expanding Windows Phone 7’s portfolio to CDMA-based (Code Division Multiple Access-based) networks such as Verizon Wireless. The platform is currently available on GSM-based AT&T and T-Mobile. |CDMA phones are expected to arrive in early 2011, ensuring that WP7 devices are available on all four U.S. carriers, thus helping increase device shipments. To bring the platform rapidly to a level of parity with other major mobile platforms, Microsoft will need to deliver several key features in the first quarter of 2011.|Those features include multitasking support, copy-and-paste and increased hardware support for augmented reality applications such as business card scanning. |Released in October, WP7 ends 2010 with over 5,000 apps in its marketplace, a milestone it reached quicker than the Google Android platform, which took almost three times as long to reach the same level. The circumstances for such comparisons are never identical, and Google followed a more gradual and tentative launch for Android compared to Microsoft’s well-orchestrated big-bang approach.|But when compared with the hundreds of thousands of activations per day for Google Android and Apple iOS devices and the hundreds of thousands of applications available for both platforms’ marketplaces, Microsoft may be forced to take a longer-term view on whether Windows Phone 7 will ultimately prove successful.  |It is precisely the broad launch and sure-footed execution that allows us to predict long-term success for WP7 at this early stage. Microsoft’s aggressive developer management behind the scenes has been visibly effective in producing a compelling smartphone alternative platform in an otherwise crowded space.}

Future of Skype for Apple Gadgets

{The prime provider of worldwide calls, the Skype Technology, is launching video calling service for all Apple’s wireless devices. This move must broaden the demand of mobile videoconferencing.The latest version of Skype lets users of the iPad,iPhone and iPod Touch receive and make video calls through WiFi or 3G connections making them more fun to use!|Previously the company had presented free mobile video-call app only for Nokia N900. Skype in Luxembourg is looking to boost the number of users who may buy the premium services. The new applications must race with the prevailing iPhone and iPod calling service offered in Fringland, and Tango by Apple.|Skype has innumerable  noteworthy users and whatever they introduce in has the prospect of making major impact.Skype had about 560 million users (mobile and desktop software) globally till June. In the beginning of 2010, about 40 percent of all Skype-to-Skype calls had been video calls|The application must help boost Skype’s brand as the company plans for an early public offering. In August 2010, Skype filed for an IPO, but has not set a date for share trade. Strategically they become more valuable than ever.|In two years, about 20 percent of the wireless users may use video calling if the services do not hike up their prices. The increase would be proportional with introduction of more phones that are equipped with the front facing cameras.|Net connected gadgets are flourishing. Skype wishes that the subscribers must be able to access its services not considering the device they are using.|Apple has not yet released the statistics of usage of the video-calling service called FaceTime for its iPhone 4 and IPod touch. Fringland’s Fring service has connected hundred million video calls and somewhat 40 percent of them are US users.The increasing popularity of video-calling may direct carriers to incriminate consumers more for the data access.}

Video Calling to iPhones by Skype!!

{Skype announced the new version of its iPhone application that brings video calling to millions of mobile users around the globe over both 3G and WiFi networks. Available to download from the Apple App Store today, the new Skype for iPhone App allows iPhone , iPad and iPod touch owners to make and/or receive free* Skype video calls for the first time. Users can now see their family, friends and colleagues around the world while talking to them. With approximately 25 million concurrent users logged into Skype at any given time. |Video calling significantly enhances the user experience of Skype for iPhone, which is one of the top five free iPhone apps in 2010 according to Apple. Now, users can make and receive free Skype-to-Skype calls, call mobiles and landlines around the world at very low rates, and now share more moments together with video on Skype for iPhone. , Skype has made it possible for millions of people to share video moments wherever they are.|A video call evolves communication beyond transactional experiences to a shared experience where people can share any occasion with others wherever they are. Whether this is a military father watching the birth of his child while deployed abroad, loved ones communicating via sign language or work colleagues collaborating around the globe - the opportunities are endless. |Users can place Skype video calls with their iPhone over both a 3G data connection* or WiFi. The new Skype for iPhone app is compatible with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and iPod touch 4th generation with i0S 4.0 or above. Video receiving capabilities are available on the iPod touch 3rd generation and iPad. Calls can be made between devices using the new Skype for iPhone app and desktops including Skype for Windows 4.2 and above, Skype for Mac 2.8 and above, Skype for Linux and ASUS Videophone.}

SWAGG Mobile Application

Live Nation Entertainment, a live entertainment company, and Outlier, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm  Incorporated and a dealer in mobile commerce, announced that Live Nation Merchandise is the latest retail merchant partner for SWAGG, Outliner’s mobile app.

Outlier's mobile application SWAGG lets users shop smarter using their mobile phones .They can buy, send or swap SWAGG GIFTS (gift cards that can be sent and received via mobile phones) and organize their old-school plastic gift cards. If a user is purchasing from a SWAGG in-store, all they have to do is select their card or offer within SWAGG and show their phones at checkout.

With Live Nation Merchandise being the merchant partner of SWAGG, customers registered for SWAGG will be able to use or share their gift cards to redeem for Live Nation merchandise, such as concert T-shirts and artist prints. In addition, Outlier will be receiving marketing rights from Live Nation, such as presence in display areas at venues and digital media inventory, to promote SWAGG. SWAGG also provides consumers mobile access to account information, special offers and loyalty programs. This makes SWAGG much more interesting and fun to use!!

Outliner claimed that this collaboration will offer its customers an efficient method to access music collectibles from their favorite artists. SWAGG makes it easy to give and receive Live Nation Merchandise gift cards directly from their mobile device.

"We are excited to help promote SWAGG by utilizing our music platform to reach our consumers," said Russell Wallach, president, Live Nation Network, in a release. "Their brand message will connect with millions of music fans through our digital network and our venues."  

DINGZAI, Photo-sharing!!

It is important for mobile business to focus on phone pictures also and not just location. Glad to see more and more Chinese mobile applications have emerged and entered the market. Camera360, invested by Matrix Partner is one of the best on image processing, but we are still waiting for its iPhone version and more social elements to be implemented. Dingzai, as one of early players working on mobile photo-sharing available for both iPhone and Android, also confirmed its $1.5millions investment from Junwei Financial Group.

Like Instagram, Dingzai also provides several image filters, such as Lomo, B&W etc. You can create a new album and upload the image which can be shared with others too. Dingzai also has a web-based service via which users can manage their images uploaded, view their friends’ uploads and send a message to friends. Using Dingzai’s mobile application, the images can be easily shared to social media such as Sina weibo, Renren etc. Every user can upload up to 25,600 pictures for free.

The web-based service has limited functions but is good complement for its mobile application. On mobile, the photo processing is good and fast but not that convenient as we expected. e.g. You are only allowed to use one filter per image, and seems that now you can not view your friends’ uploads right on the application. Dingzai team is based in Shenzhen and the company is set up in 2008.