The Fourth Estate

Apples vs Oranges

The sales assistant in the downtown NYC TMobile store was effusive to say the least. He shrugged at my hacked Hong Kong iPhone, and pulled out the new Google phone and waved it at me. 'This changes everything', he said. 'I can check an address on my map, zoom into 3D street level and then actually see a picture of my own shop. And even better, I can scan the SKUs of my products, and see if they are cheaper down the road'. I nodded politely, thinking that if anything was going to change with the new Google phone, it may simply be the number of people spending money at his overpriced shop.

The Silver Lining

 

Apple's new MobileMe service has had a tough reception. Not entirely unsurprising. After all, when you are heralding the second coming of the 'Jesus Phone', its inevitable that expectations might be running unfairly high.

Casbaa 2007

I've been totally immersed in Mobile TV for the last few months and on Friday I presented a keynote talk at CASBAA's 2007 conference in Hong Kong on the subject. One of the main problems with Mobile TV at the moment is expectations. Individually - 'mobile' and 'tv' - are two of the biggest business ideas of all time. Not surprising then that most people simply expect 'Mobile TV' to be a runaway success right out of the box. If only it were that simple.

As part of the soon to be released research paper, I talked through a 10 point checklist on the essential ingredients of a successful Mobile TV service, based on the interviews I have been running with senior media executives over the last few months. I'll spill the beans on this soon - but suffice to say, for the most part it boils down to one very important thing. Ease of use. Which translates roughly to not letting the engineers, lawyers and accountants have free reign when launching new consumer services.

Have TV, Will Travel

I love the subway. There is always a certain sameness about it that borders on the uncanny. You get on at Myeong-dong, Seoul and get off at Times Square, New York. And yet, when you look closely - so different. Like the way people pass the time in the carriages in Korea. Mostly staring at palm sized devices with odd antennae protruding from them. It is one thing to read about Mobile TV in Korea, and another to see it for what it is - part of everyday life. I arrived in Seoul today for a few meetings and to catch up with some old friends. What blows me away about technology in this part of the world is that they don't fetishise it the way we do in the west. The latest gadgets are not sold in gleaming concept stores, but under glaring neons in small markets, wrapped in kitchen grade plastic next to the section with vacuum cleaners. Mighty media executives and regulators on the other side of the world may ponder broadcast standards and business models. But meanwhile a Korean salary man, hemmed in on all sides by fellow workers will catch a few minutes of Dae Jang Geum in between stops.

Chasing The Dragon

Whether it be chasing online eyeballs or trading for silk and spices, the West has had a long fascination with expanding Eastwards. The lure is part growth fetish, part colonial fervor. But there is a catch. Unlike the Opium Wars of an earlier age, this time round the Orient may have the technology advantage.