MOBIZENS OF INDIA

From TECHTREE.COM : According to a recent study conducted by Nokia, India is seeing a constant rise in the use of the mobile web to access various services.The study, conducted in partnership with TNS India, revealed startling facts about the current state of the mobile advertising industry in the country. The study was based on a sample of 3500 users from 15 cities across the country.

The study revealed that mobile users are increasingly using their handsets to access the Internet. The average usage per week on the traditional web stood at 2.4 days. Access using Mobile web surprisingly stood slightly higher at 2.7 days per week. Another interesting part of the study was the revelation that 80 percent of the users felt disconnected and "lost" if they do not have access to their cellphones for an elongated time period - indicating how intrinsic the mobile phone has become a part of our daily lives.
The survey also revealed was the fact that more users are finding out about new product information via the mobile web (28 percent) than the traditional web (26 percent).

The research conducted in select metro cities of India also revealed that users are fairly familiar with ads on their mobile phones and as much as 18 percent of the users said they had noticed a mobile banner advertisement. 56 percent of the users who saw the ads went on to click the ad and reach the mobile site of the advertiser. A large number (29 percent) of those who saw the advertisements went on to discuss the same with others, indicating a viral effect.

So.. Are You A Mobizen of India???

Call Rates R.I.P.

As Rakesh wanted to buy a new mobile of the smartphone breed ,Dhiru and I were discussing about different mobiles and the new age mobile applications with him.Just then occurred to me that in the near future there will be no more call rates as such.

Let me explain .Almost every smartphone is equipped with 3g, Wi-Fi & other such wireless connectivity solutions. Wi Max and 3g networks have already been launched in some areas of India.Suppose I have a Smartphone ,so does my friend and we both have a WiMax connection, then I don't have to call or text through the GSM or CDMA connection but I will be using the Gtalk to IM or Skype to call.I will be charged for the data usage only which will be much lesser than call rates.

That means with Internet access everywhere, mobile users can stay connected through the internet itself and not necessarily through traditional networks like GSM .So there will be no more Mobile operators but only Internet service providers.

Yes it will be long time for the entire change but it will surely disrupt the telecom business model and entirely change the rules of the industry.This type of scenario is referred as a strategic inflection point,only the companies which will accept this and adapt future technologies will sustain in the future.

With telecom operators rolling out more networks and smartphones becoming more cheaper, its just a matter of time and it will happen...eventually .

GOOGLE GOLA

 

Neha sent me this pic, which shows the influence of Google among common public.It's actually a name board of cart selling Golas (Kala Khatta), a type of Indian snow cone . Until recently GOOGLE never advertised ,  atleast not in India.Only after the introduction of sms search,I could see heavy outdoor advertisements because its not just netizens anymore ,but it even wants to tap mobizens (my term for heavy mobile users) who are a growing segment-(mobile downloads are the  latest rage) .

After seeing these pic,I think  Google will become a familiar name among masses(or is it already??).How many web portals can achieve this?? Yes Yahoo! also has started putting ads in city busses,but to what extent it has reached the masses?? I guess very little.  

Obama mania is another example of this type of buzz, I mean even regional magazines had pictures,jokes,trivia,etc about him  and it was one of the hot topics discussed even in tea stalls,lunch breaks etc.  But atleast in that the mass media were hyping about it.

But in this case , I guess it just spawned ... way to go Google!!

IPHONE @ RS 1000 /day

Dhiru ,one of the mobile fanatics in my class,changed his cell phone again.As a new year change he shifted from HTC models to the still hot Iphone..so what's the big deal??

The Iphone was 7 days old and so he got it for Rs7000 less. So why did the user sell this in the first place?? He was not finding the touch interface simple and it was too complicated for him to perform basic tasks like making calls, sms, etc. So he decided to sell and every day the phone stays in his hand reduced the selling price as the original price may come down at any time. Just imagine,that guy has spent like Rs1000/day for using the Iphone.

So was it a impulse purchase ? I guess so.I think that guy was clueless about Apple & Iphone.He just bought it to show off.But then he could not use it for even normal usage so he had to sell it. And so Dhiru got a good deal.But even Dhiru will sell it probably in a couple of months [he gets bored soon I guess :)..],when some other "not so smart "guy struggling with his new smartphone offers a good deal or if HTC G1 comes to India.

I am just wondering what will be the price of a Iphone one year from one....any guesses???