| This week's sponsor is Qualcomm. |  | Webinar: Wi-Fi Evolution and its role in the future of wireless
Wednesday, April 3rd, 1pm ET /10am PT Tune-in to this webinar to learn more about Wi-Fi evolution, its critical role in addressing the looming 1000x data challenge, enabling smart connected homes, and exciting new frontiers it is poised to explore. Register Today! |
Today's Top Stories
1. Ex-Windows Phone GM Kindel joins Amazon to spearhead 'something secret'
2. Rumor Mill: Facebook Home leak points to Android homescreen replacement
3. Evernote: Google Keep isn't a threat
4. OTT messaging app Viber plans to make money with value-added services
5. NPD: Pandora, iHeartRadio top streaming radio usage, fueled by mobile Editor's Corner: Mobile game marketing now a contest of numbers Also Noted: Comcast Media Center, Elemental Technologies and Irdeto
Spotlight On... Vendors capitalize on growing demand for mobile game analytics
Twilio partners with Google's Cloud platform; EPIX launching video app for PlayStation Vita and much more...  Best new Android, iOS apps of March 2013
Mobile apps will remain a universal obsession only as long as they continue to captivate, surprise and entertain consumers. Fortunately, the app ecosystem shows no signs of slowing up: Innovative and immersive mobile experiences are entering app stores every day. Each month, FierceMobileContent will look at the best and brightest, spotlighting the new apps that you need to download to your smartphone ASAP. Here are March's finest--the best mobile apps of the month. Click here to get started.
| This week's sponsor is Kaltura. |  | Webinar: CorporateTube - The Next Step for Enterprise Success
Thursday, April 18th, 2pm ET/ 11am PT
Learn from an elaborate case study and see how leading companies implemented this cutting edge solution to reap the benefits of video in the enterprise. Experts from Oracle, Akamai, and Kaltura will explain the many possibilities of deploying a CorporateTube for your organization. Register Today! |
| 
Mobile game marketing now a contest of numbers
The mobile game industry is clearly maturing. In years past, mobile game makers would develop their titles mainly on intuition, with marketing plans based mostly on hope and word of mouth. Today, however, the business is a sport of mathematics--of carefully targeting the correct demographics, of fine-tuning the marketing spend to acquire the right paying customers and of tweaking a game so that it's fun to play for free but even better if a user spends a little money. This is the reality that Mark Dooley lives in. Dooley is vice president of marketing for game maker Digital Chocolate, a company that has been in the business for more than a decade. Although Digital Chocolate has never enjoyed a breakout title like Angry Birds or Words with Friends, the company continues plugging away with a small but successful lineup of Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), iOS and Android games. I spoke with Dooley about the company's newest game, Crazy Penguin Wars: Tiny Duels. A team of 12-15 Digital Chocolate designers developed the game for Facebook, and last month the company brought the title onto iOS. The physics-based combat game is worth highlighting due to its ordinariness--like virtually every other mobile game today, Crazy Penguin Wars: Tiny Duels is free to download and entices users to spend money on upgrades like better weapons. (According to Flurry, games account for 80 percent of the $10 billion-a-year app industry, and the freemium approach used by Crazy Penguin Wars: Tiny Duels and others is by far the most common type of mobile gaming business model.) With that in mind, how is Dooley planning to drive interest in Crazy Penguin Wars: Tiny Duels? He said the company's marketing strategy breaks into two major buckets... continued Read the full column on the Web Read more about: Digital Chocolate, Flurry
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| Sponsor: Ooyala, Verimatrix, Irdeto and IneoQuest FierceLive! Webinars > Wi-Fi Evolution and its role in the future of wireless - Wednesday, April 3rd, 1pm ET / 10am PT
> CorporateTube - The Next Step for Enterprise Success- Thursday, April 18th, 2pm ET/ 11am PT
Events > Only 1 Week Left to Register: Exclusive Executive Breakfast at the 2013 NAB Show! - April 9, 2013 | Las Vegas, NV - Sponsored by: Comcast Media Center, Elemental Technologies, and Irdeto
> Mobile Payments Conference - April 10-11, 2013 - New York, NY
> Competitive Carriers Global Expo - April 17-19 - New Orleans
> BlackBerry Jam for Developers - May 14-16 - Orlando, Florida
> Andrew Seybold Wireless University at CTIA 2013 - May 20, 2013 - Las Vegas, Nevada
> The App Summit - May 21, 2013 - Las Vegas, NV
> World of Tablets at CTIA 2013 - May 22, 2013 - Las Vegas, NV
> Fierce Innovation Awards 2012 Live Announcement of this Year's Winners - Now Available On-Demand
Marketplace > Whitepaper: Monetizing Networks in the Cloud Era
> eBook: Smarter Service: The Contract Center of the Future
> eBook: How to Get a Return on Knowledge in a Big Data World
> Whitepaper: VoLTE: Why, When and How?
> Research: How to Unlock Knowledge from Big, Unstructured Data to Improve Customer Service
> eBook: The Promise of VoLTE
Jobs > Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs
* Post a classified ad: Click here.
* General ad info: Click here | Today's Top News 1. Ex-Windows Phone GM Kindel joins Amazon to spearhead 'something secret'
Close to two years after exiting his post as General Manager of Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows Phone Developer Ecosystem program, Charlie Kindel has joined Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) to oversee an undisclosed project. "I'm building a new team going after a totally new area for Amazon," Kindel writes on his LinkedIn profile, describing the position as director of "something secret." Kindel adds he is currently hiring cloud and mobile developers and testers, program managers and product managers. Kindel confirmed his new role to GeekWire, explaining "Amazon presented an opportunity to build something new that has ginormous potential. I simply couldn't pass the opportunity up. As a double bonus, the idea that I can work in such a principled and customer focused company is really exciting to me." He said he is unable to divulge any further details about the initiative. A 21-year Microsoft veteran, Kindel co-founded the company's eHome division and led the launch of the Windows Home Server initiative before taking the reins of the Windows Phone team. Kindel left Microsoft in mid-2011, weeks ahead of the release of the Windows Phone 7.1 operating system update--he soon launched his own startup BizLogr, which built an automated mileage reporting tool called MileLogr. BizLogr co-founder Stefan Negritoiu has assumed the CEO spot following Kindel's exit. Kindel's decision to join Amazon will no doubt further fuel speculation the digital retail giant is working on its own branded Android smartphone. Rumors of an Amazon smartphone have circulated for months: Citing sources with knowledge of the matter, Bloomberg reported in July 2012 that Amazon tapped Foxconn to develop the device, adding the retailer has assembled a portfolio of patents covering wireless technologies to fend off potential allegations of infringement. A subsequent Verge report added the Amazon smartphone will run the same forked Android variant powering its Kindle Fire tablet. A smartphone fits squarely within Amazon's larger vision for digital media dominance. Unlike Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), which relies on content from its iTunes digital media storefront and App Store to boost sales of hardware like the iPhone and iPad--and unlike Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), which looks to Android to fuel revenues derived from its core advertising and search services--Amazon depends on affordable hardware to drive sales of e-books, music, movies and related content offerings. Its digital media revenues totaled $6.51 billion during the fourth quarter of 2012, up 8 percent year-over-year, and for the second year in a row, the Kindle Fire HD tablet was the company's best-selling and most-gifted item. Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos has strongly hinted Amazon plans to launch additional devices. Speaking to television interviewer Charlie Rose last November, Bezos joked "I agree that there are a bunch of rumors that we might do a phone." After Rose said "Of course, that answer leads us to believe that you are going to do it. You're just waiting for the right opportunity," a laughing Bezos responded "Well, you'll just have to wait and see." For more:
- read this GeekWire article Related articles:
Windows Phone GM Charlie Kindel exits Microsoft
Rumor Mill: Amazon's Kindle smartphone delayed by production challenges
Amazon's Bezos hints at more devices but won't confirm smartphone rumors
Amazon: E-book sales increased 70 percent in 2012, media revenues up 8 percent in Q4
Amazon acquires text-to-speech firm Ivona to rival Apple's Siri
Amazon challenges iTunes with MP3 Store for Apple's iOS Read more about: Android
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2. Rumor Mill: Facebook Home leak points to Android homescreen replacement
Leaked images obtained by Android Police suggest Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) is poised to launch a replacement homescreen for Android smartphones, offering users an expanded number of permissions and controls compared to previous Facebook applications. According to Android Police, the new Facebook Home launcher runs on top of HTC's Sense 4.5 skin and Android 4.1.2. Permissions include a system alert window that stays on top of all other windows, a disable keyguard to turn off the lockscreen and control over Wi-Fi connections and system settings. Facebook Home also features a dedicated "compose" button, a dedicated Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) search button and Chat Heads, which appears to offer similar functionality to the social network's standalone Facebook Messenger app. Facebook Home will roll out via the mid-range HTC Myst smartphone, which touts a 4.3-inch 720p screen, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel camera and Qualcomm's (NASDAQ:QCOM) dual-core Snapdragon S4 MSM8960 processor. Android Police notes the app includes permissions to read settings for the stock Android launcher, the HTC launcher and Samsung Electronics' TouchWiz launcher, adding "Having permissions for TouchWiz on an HTC phone is a dead giveaway that Facebook plans on releasing Facebook Home not just on this phone, but as a standalone app in the Play Store." Late last week, Facebook mailed out invitations to an April 4 press event, encouraging media to "come see our new home on Android." The Android Police report also corresponds with an earlier Wall Street Journal report indicating Facebook plans to announce new software for Android that displays content from a user's account on the smartphone's homescreen, pushing its services above the level of a third-party app. That report additionally stated Facebook will demonstrate the service on an HTC device: The two companies previously collaborated on HTC's ChaCha and Salsa phones, which feature a dedicated Facebook button. Separately, TechCrunch reported that Facebook plans to announce a "software layer" running on top of Android that would provide direct access to Facebook services like Messenger and VoIP calling. Facebook has not responded to requests for comment. Facebook now boasts more than 680 million mobile monthly active users in all. The company has repeatedly denied rumors it will expand its business into the mobile hardware segment. In addition, insiders say Facebook has privately promised both Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google that a branded smartphone is not in the cards. For more:
- read this Android Police article
- read this Verge article
- read this PCMag.com article Related articles:
Facebook promises 'new home' on Android, rumors hint at HTC Facebook phone
Rumor Mill: HTC's Facebook phone will preload Instagram, Messenger
Facebook: News Feed redesign is inspired by mobile
Facebook expands free voice calling to flagship iOS app
Facebook expands Messenger voice calling to U.S. iPhone users
Facebook: Mobile users outnumber Web users
Facebook's mobile revenues doubled in Q4, analyst forecasts Read more about: Samsung TouchWiz, HTC
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3. Evernote: Google Keep isn't a threat
An Evernote executive said the company has not seen a slowdown in new users due to the recent release of Google Keep, a note-taking app from Android giant Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) that is a direct competitor to Evernote. "We think that it is great that they released the product," said Philip Constantinou, head of products for Evernote, in an interview with FierceMobileContent. "We think it's great for users, for them to have options." Constantinou said Evernote continues to see around 100,000 new users per day, a number he said has remained relatively steady throughout the launch of Google Keep. Indeed, Google Play installation figures show that Google Keep peaked at around 5 million shortly after Google released the app, a number that has since declined significantly (though is now increasing slightly). Evernote's Android app, on the other hand, appears to have remained relatively steady during the same time period at around 40 million installs. Moreover, the average rating for Evernote's app among Google Play users stands at 4.7, whereas Google Keep is at 4.4. Constantinou pointed out that Google Keep isn't the only major competitor to Evernote. For example, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) continues to offer its Notes app on its iOS platform that provides many of the same services that Evernote does. However, Android is an important platform for Evernote: Constantinou said the company obtains most of its new users from Android. Google launched Keep, which tracks user's thoughts via notes, lists and photos and also can transcribe voice notes and save notes to Google Drive, on March 20. The release generated headlines such as "Google Keep: Smart note-taker takes on Evernote" and "Google Launches Its Evernote Killer, Google Keep." Evernote is available on a variety of platforms, including desktop computers, tablets and mobile devices. The company offers both free and paid versions of the service. Evernote counts around 41 million users, and last year said it counted around 1.5 million paying customers (Constantinou declined to update that figure). Also last year Evernote said its Android application generated just over 20 cents per month per active user, and its iOS application produced 20 cents in monthly revenues per active user. However, the company said its monthly revenues per active user for Android included indirect revenues from the company's partner deals. Related Articles:
Google introduces Keep note-taking app
Evernote: Desktop apps generate more revenues per user than mobile apps
NPD: 40% of freemium gamers have made in-game payments
Gameloft to support both premium, freemium app models Read more about: Google keep, Philip Constantinou
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4. OTT messaging app Viber plans to make money with value-added services
Viber plans to roll out value-added services designed to monetize its platform, but it pledged its core calling and messaging services will remain free. Speaking to Mobile World Live, Viber CEO Talmon Marco called free voice and messaging "sort of a pact we made with our users when we launched," but added "This year we will start offering value-added services in order to generate revenue. We've got to do it at some point." Marco did not divulge details on the new services, but said Viber has already discounted mobile advertising as a monetization option. "The problem with advertising… is that [devices] don't have that much screen real estate," he explained. "You take up some of it with an ad, you have even less. It's just doesn't look good. There are better ways to make money." During an appearance at February's Mobile World Congress event, Marco urged mobile operators losing messaging and voice revenues to free over-the-top challengers like Viber, WhatsApp and Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) Messenger to consider revenue-sharing partnership agreements. Viber recently signed its first carrier deal with Indonesian operator Axis, which offers subscribers access to Viber at a reduced price in an effort to encourage consumers to upgrade to more expensive data plans. Marco said Viber also is open to other types of agreements with carriers. For example, he said Viber could team with a carrier to offer enhanced voice calling over a carrier's voice network, and the two companies could share the resulting revenues from charges to end users. Marco hinted that some deals are already in the works: "Expect to hear some pretty cool things later this year," he said. Viber now counts more than 175 million users worldwide. The company's services cost $200,000 per month to run. "With so many free alternatives the ability to charge for messaging services seems unlikely, forcing messaging companies to find other ways to monetize," Strategy Analytics Director, Apps Research Josh Martin said last month. "Failure to do so will likely doom some of the high-flying companies today--unless those companies are acquired by larger corporations that use them as brand extensions. The notion that over the top messaging services can be perpetually revenue-free will proliferate until one service fails--making consumers face the stark reality that everything has a price." For more:
- read this Mobile World Live article Related articles:
Viber: We want to share revenues with wireless carriers
Verizon challenges OTT rivals with cross-platform messaging
AT&T's Christopher dishes on HTML5, OTT threats
Forecast: Mobile messaging traffic to double by 2017, still led by SMS
Survey: Half of smartphone owners use IM, OTT messaging apps
Acision: 91% of U.S. smartphone owners actively use SMS Read more about: Viber, Talmon Marco
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5. NPD: Pandora, iHeartRadio top streaming radio usage, fueled by mobile
Subscription-based and free Internet radio services like Pandora and Spotify accounted for 23 percent of average weekly music listening time among U.S. consumers between the ages of 13 and 35 during the fourth quarter of 2012, up from 17 percent in the year-ago period, thanks to increasing mobile engagement, according to a new NPD Group report. The free version of Pandora led all streaming music services in during the fourth quarter, representing 39 percent of usage among Americans 13 to 35. iHeartRadio follows at 11 percent, ahead of Spotify's free offering at 9 percent. Grooveshark trails at 3 percent, ahead of Slacker at 2 percent. More than half of Pandora and iHeartRadio users leverage their mobile phones to access streaming music, NPD notes. In addition, roughly one in five Pandora or iHeartRadio users access those services in their cars, a context historically dominated by conventional AM/FM radio listening--in fact, terrestrial radio now represents just 24 percent of music-listening time in the 13-to-35 segment, a year-over-year decline of 2 percentage points. NPD also cites a drop in consumers listening to CDs and digital music files. "Driven by mobility and connectivity, music-streaming services are rapidly growing their share of the music listening experience for teens and young adults, at the expense of traditional music listening methods," said Russ Crupnick, NPD's senior vice president of industry analysis. Americans 36 and older have been far slower to migrate their listening habits, however: Internet radio accounted for just 13 percent of music listening in late 2012, while AM/FM radio captured a 41 percent share.
For more:
- read this release Related articles:
Pandora mobile revenues jump 111 percent in Q4, CEO Kennedy steps down
Pandora caps free mobile listening as royalty costs surge
Apple, Google sound the death knell for operator music services
Slacker Radio redesigns mobile apps to challenge Pandora, Spotify
NPD: Half of smartphone owners use their device for music listening Read more about: Mobile Music
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Also Noted
SPOTLIGHT ON... Vendors capitalize on growing demand for mobile game analytics  When Lee Jacobson served as senior vice president of licensing and digital publishing at Atari, all he wanted was user behavior data that would improve the company's games. Because he couldn't get the information he craved, Jacobson is now about to launch Apmetrix, a San Diego, Calif.-based startup that released its first limited beta SDK last week.
Apmetrix's services will be free to developers with 100,000 users or less and will provide a range of real-time reports on ad revenue, location data, A/B testing and more. What it won't provide, Jacobson promises, is an overly complex dashboard. Nobody wants that, he says. "Their brains shut down," he says of developers attempting to obtain useful information from user behavior. "They don't always know what they should be looking at as opposed to what they shouldn't be looking at." Feature Quick news from around the Web @FierceMobiCo: .@Kantar: #Android smartphone sales surge after #Samsung slashes prices http://bit.ly/X8D4hp Article | Follow @FierceMobiCo > Twilio partners with Google's Cloud platform. Article > Studio-backed EPIX launching video streaming app for PlayStation Vita. Article > The Rock debuts Rockpocalypse mobile game. Release Wireless News > Report: Verizon, AT&T consider blockbuster $245 billion joint bid for Vodafone's assets. Article > Report: AT&T could bundle Aereo's TV service with wireless data. Article > Samsung confirms that Apple could get more than $1.05 billion in new patent trial. Article And finally… Philadelphia using mimes and clowns to warn against texting while driving. Article > Wi-Fi Evolution and its role in the future of wireless - Wednesday, April 3rd, 1pm ET / 10am PT Tune-in to this webinar to learn more about Wi-Fi evolution, its critical role in addressing the looming 1000x data challenge, enabling smart connected homes, and exciting new frontiers it is poised to explore. Register Today! > CorporateTube - The Next Step for Enterprise Success- Thursday, April 18th, 2pm ET/ 11am PT Learn from an elaborate case study and see how leading companies implemented this cutting edge solution to reap the benefits of video in the enterprise. Experts from Oracle, Akamai, and Kaltura will explain the many possibilities of deploying a CorporateTube for your organization. Register Today.
| > Only 1 Week Left to Register: Exclusive Executive Breakfast at the 2013 NAB Show! - April 9, 2013 | Las Vegas, NV - Sponsored by: Comcast Media Center, Elemental Technologies, and Irdeto Executives from NBCUniversal, ONE World Sports, MobiTV, Inc., and Comcast Media Center explore the impact that the battle for multiscreen viewers is having on content owners, broadcasters, cable operators, and over-the-top video players. Join FierceCable Editor Steve Donohue for this exclusive breakfast event at the NAB Show, April 9, in Las Vegas. Sponsored by Comcast Media Center, Elemental Technologies, and Irdeto. ACT NOW: REGISTER TODAY! > Mobile Payments Conference - April 10-11, 2013 - New York, NY Sponsored by Mobile Marketing & Technology, a leading news outlet on mobile payment and marketing developments, the Spring Mobile Payments Conference will bring together high level executives to learn about the latest in the mobile marketing, mobile wallet and mobile payments ecosystem. Click here. > Competitive Carriers Global Expo - April 17-19 - New Orleans CCA is the premier trade show and conference for the competitive mobile ecosystem and brings together decision-makers for networking, learning and sharing best practices. CCA is the nation's leading association for competitive wireless providers. To register www.ccaevents.org. > BlackBerry Jam for Developers - May 14-16 - Orlando, Florida Ready to create innovative social experiences or engaging, in-demand mobile apps? BlackBerry® Jam Americas at BlackBerry Live™ is your opportunity to gain valuable knowledge direct from BlackBerry experts. Take your development platform to the next level. Register today! > Andrew Seybold Wireless University at CTIA 2013 - May 20, 2013 - Las Vegas, Nevada LTE worldwide broadband standard is changing wireless forever. Delve into the technologies, spectrum, deployments, ecosystems, and devices. Understand the implications. More information at www.andrewseybold.com > The App Summit - May 21, 2013 - Las Vegas, NV The annual international conference on multi-platform apps. Join us for our seventh event in Las Vegas as we bring together the top companies from around the globe that will help shape the future of applications and mobile web. Official Partner event of CTIA 2013 www.theappsummit.net. > World of Tablets at CTIA 2013 - May 22, 2013 - Las Vegas, NV Don't miss the longest running event dedicated to tablet strategies for the consumer and enterprise. The World of Tablets has consistently lead the tablet revolution by bringing together industry thought leaders. Visit www.tabletsevent.com. > Fierce Innovation Awards 2012 Live Announcement of this Year's Winners - Now Available On-Demand Please join Jason Nelson, Publisher of FierceWireless, FierceTelecom, and FierceCable as we announce the winners of the Fierce Innovation Awards 2012. Click here to RSVP today.
| > Whitepaper: Monetizing Networks in the Cloud Era Enterprises are increasingly adopting cloud services for an enhanced IT experience while maintaining or reducing costs. This paper explains how providers can address these challenges and opportunities to more efficiently monetize their network and human assets. Download Today. > eBook: Smarter Service: The Contract Center of the Future This eBook explores the challenges facing traditional contact centers and the benefits of deploying the contact center of the future. You'll find links to further resources on the final page. Download today. > eBook: How to Get a Return on Knowledge in a Big Data World Learn how to get put your organization's collective knowledge in the hands of your service reps using advanced enterprise search technology - and watch your service performance improve and customer satisfaction soar. Download Now For Free! > Whitepaper: VoLTE: Why, When and How? This whitepaper will argue that VoLTE creates a significant opportunity for operators, but warns that the evolution from existing voice services will place before them a number of serious challenges. Read More. > Research: How to Unlock Knowledge from Big, Unstructured Data to Improve Customer Service Learn how to unlock knowledge trapped in silos and systems and read how advanced enterprise search technology can put your organization's collective knowledge in the hands of your service reps. Watch your service performance improve and customer satisfaction soar. Download Now! > eBook: The Promise of VoLTE While operators are hesitant to move to VoLTE at the moment, experts predict that all operators will eventually move their services over. FierceWireless analyzes when the VoLTE switch will likely occur and how. Download for free today.
| > Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs | |
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