The Mobile Marketing Blog - TellMyCell

The Emmys Have Gone Mobile

In anticipation of the 63^rd Annual Emmy Awards, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has developed an app. The app features several wonderful ways to have a fully integrated experience while watching the primetime awards show. Further, the Emmy Awards Official App contains premium user value with real-time content as well as ongoing mobile archival content for the end user. Historically speaking, this marks the first time the Emmys has attempted to create an app for the show. Below is a list of some of the features of the app that will enhance a viewer’s experience:

Search Award Nominees by Category

The application doesn’t just list the categories that are televised; it includes an exhaustive list of all the awards. Once a category is chosen, a sub-menu pops up to reveal actor bios, synopses of shows, clips, photos, and fashion choices of the nominees. As the Emmys unfold, data in each category are updated in real time.

Archival Media

Using the navigational bar at the bottom of the screen, an app user can access the Emmy Awards’ archival media. This includes recordings of past awards shows, salient footage of actors, interviews, and the like. Incorporating the history of television and the Emmys into the app is innovative and dynamic, and presents a whole new aspect of the awards show to app users (particularly those users who’ve missed the Emmys in the past).

Backstage Live

“Backstage Live” offers the behind-the-scenes premium content that Emmy lovers are looking for. Using ten cameras to record the action, and Jane Lynch as your host, Backstage Live promises to give exclusive coverage and access. The app feature shows actors’ entrances and exits, greenroom moments, interviews in the pressroom, and conversations with honored artists in the Winners’ Lounge. Finally, the Thank You Cam follows winners, allowing them to dovetail their acceptance speeches with their more off-the-cuff elations.

The Emmy Awards Phone App is a testament to the variety of ways consumers can enjoy integrated media in this day and age. It has plenty of high-value media, both past and present, and incorporates media from all of the Television Academy’s myriad events. With a robust social media presence as well, the Emmys is hoping to draw in a record-breaking number of viewers on the night of the show. In the end, it appears that the directors, creators, and actors won’t be the only individuals to win this September— we present the Emmy App for your consideration. 

Has the Tablet Had Its Day?

 

One could easily spend a small fortune buying a variety of electronic devices designed to make life easier, more portable, and more efficient. From the omnipresent smartphone and highly productive desktop computer, to the portable e-reader or lightweight tablet, every device offers a unique experience. As to whether each device is necessary is still up for debate—what isn’t, however, are the declining sales of tablets reported by International Data Corporation.

During the last quarter of 2014, Apple’s iPad reported a 17.7% decrease in sales. In the same quarter, Samsung was down almost 20%. In general, total unit sales dropped 3.2% across all tablet manufacturers in 2014, a fact which leads some critics to believe tablets may be headed toward extinction—or, are they?

 

Size Problems 

Some experts fail that Apple and Samsung shot themselves in the foot by building larger smartphones. Despite its past aversion to increasing the screen size of the iPhone, Apple created a new model that is almost 5 inches, and Samsung’s Galaxy 6 is slightly larger. Today, most consumers are happy to do several tasks or enjoy recreational activities on their smartphones instead of on tablets.

When tablets first came to market circa 2010, they offered a basic solution to the limitations of small-screened smartphones with the versatility of desktop computers. It was a niche product for people with specific needs—well received by nearly everyone who enjoyed playing games or preferred reading electronic books. 

Most research suggests that the tablet’s once carefully etched market is now at odds with the technology—unsure of its use or relevancy. According to Gartner, the MacBook Air is expected to grow 60% in 2015, suggesting that productivity is not ideally managed on a tablet. Popular E-readers like the Kindle are still favored for their specific use over tablets, and most people can comfortably watch television on a 5-inch smartphone screen. 

Another issue that may account for the slowdown in sales is the longer lifespan essential to the tablet itself. While many consumers upgrade their phones every 12-15 months, tablets don’t implore the same urgency to upgrade. Where smartphones seem to revel in annual upgrades, the tablet maintains a more limited evolution. 

While it’s sad to see an expensive investment like the iPad become obsolete, it’s a relief to know that technology is headed toward a more inclusive user experience. Instead of having multiple devices for specific tasks or activities, wouldn’t it be nice to have just one or two? It would certainly be more cost effective for consumers.  

The future of the tablet isn’t over just yet. Apple and Android are already carving out new niches in education to make the technology relevant in the classroom. What’s more, limitations on smartphones and desktop computers work both ways: the screen on a mobile device can only get so big, and the productivity of desktop computers can only get so small. Tablets will likely remain somewhere in the middle. 

Is Your Mobile App Up to Scratch?

 

Wondering why your app isn’t capturing consumer attention like it should?  

It doesn’t take much effort to delete an app, which any consumer will do should said app not function properly or prove difficult to use. Rather than annoying the majority of your audience with an ill-fated app, take the necessary steps to put it in working order. 

Here’s a look at what goes into creating a successful app, as well as a tip or two for getting yours off the proverbial ground: 

 

Affordability 

Is your app free? Or at least extremely affordable? There are plenty of ways to make money off free apps (Instagram, anyone?), with those costing $2 or less also proving attractive to potential users.

 

Usefulness

Does the app enhance the lives of its users in some essential way? Does it provide a practical purpose? If your app doesn’t fulfill a key role in users’ lives, then it better be very, very entertaining, such as the now-classic Angry Birds. 

 

Usability

How easy is your app to use? Is it simple to navigate and understand? An App’s Usability is key to growing downloads and maintaining engagement.

 

Advertising

What kind of reach does your app boast? Showcasing your product across social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest, as well as the company blog, is a good start, especially since these sites allow you to discuss matters related to the app and otherwise engage your audience. The more you engage and appear truly interested in users’ opinions, the more buzz your app will generate. 

 

Multi-Channel Capacity

Think about your app’s channel capacity as well. Evernote is a fantastic example of a multi-channel app, as it’s available no matter where you are or what the online situation.

 

Defining the Market 

Defining your exact market also helps your app get the recognition it needs for success. Is your target audience kids? Young professionals? Teenagers? Seniors?

 

Incentives and Rewards

What’s your app like in terms of incentives and rewards? Dropbox, for example, gives additional free space to consumers when they encourage their friends to join; the friends enjoy extra space as well. Rewards such as coupons, points, and virtual goals also help considerably when trying to pique consumer interest in your app. 

 

Tips and Tricks

Additional options for monetization include thinking about what upgrades you can implement, as well as how your app performs in terms of scalability. SMS marketing is another great way to generate interest in your app, as it’s easy to use and capable of reaching a mass audience in mere minutes. SMS offers a way to introduce your app with a free trial period. Additionally, you can ask customers to share a short referral code with friends in exchange for discounts on future purchases. 

Give your app the attention it deserves, and see if customers don’t give it the attention you want in turn. 

 

Common Misconceptions About App Marketing

 

Despite overwhelming evidence to support the growing use and success of mobile marketing, there are still skeptics spreading common misconceptions. Overcoming these mobile marketing misconceptions will take time and data-driven resources; however, the result of lifting the veil will drive better marketing strategies, improve user bases, and incite further innovation. 

Here’s a list of common mobile marketing misconceptions—debunked. 

 

Cheap users are good users

The cost-per-install (CPI) metric is a common resource used by app marketers to measure how many marketing dollars it costs per user download. While many marketers will argue this number should be low, are inexpensive users really better for the app? Not necessarily. 

In mobile gaming for instance, the top 1 percent of users spend the most money. Further, these users spend an amazing 90 percent of the total app revenue. In short, more users don’t equal more revenue. Instead, measuring the quality of a user over a longer period of time based on interaction, as well as retention might prove more useful when calculating CPI. 

Depending on the revenue model, each app should look subjectively at CPI, allowing the most effective marketing channels to drive effort. Looking at user behavior is a huge part of this.

 

User behavior data can’t improve marketing tactics 

Whether a business decides to use third-party mobile analytics solutions or develops their own internal system, gathering user information isn’t just for product people—it’s a marketing tool.  

Understanding the details of user activity provides a huge advantage to marketers, enabling them to seek out users who possess similar demographic, geographic and psychological characteristics. With channels like Facebook and Twitter, marketers can spend more time looking for quality users instead of inexpensive users. 

Additionally, mobile analytics allows marketers to retarget specific segments of a user base, pushing some users to take action within the app through a variety of initiatives. 

 

Not every industry can benefit from mobile 

Instead of pondering whether mobile is right for your industry or not, consider how it could help. At some point, every consumer will be a mobile user, and even if your business lags in technology, it’s likely your customer base won’t. According to Nielsen, more than 50 percent of mobile users are age 35 years and above.

Millennials are quickly becoming the strongest and most easily reachable marketing demographic—they simply can’t be away from their mobile device. Ignoring this fact is bad for business, so while mobile might not have fit your business needs in the past, it more than likely will be part of your company’s future. 

 

Creative ads are a one-time investment  

This has absolutely proven not true. Using an online banner ad multiple times across various websites is great for visibility, but its longevity is not favorable when left unchanged. 

Instead of one creative campaign, try multiple adds with image and copy variations. Split testing the success of different ads will provide valuable insight. Focus on what’s working and change what isn’t. 

Also, refreshing your creative will drive conversions. Different channels like Facebook and Twitter prefer fresh and current content to recycled use. On Facebook, for example, they’ll post your ads on user’s news feed more frequently if it’s changed regularly.  

By avoiding these common misconceptions, incorporating a mobile marketing strategy doesn’t have to be a nightmarish ordeal. Overcoming skepticism is the first step.

Why is Tablet Growth Slowing?

 

A new report from IDC indicates a marked slowdown in tablet adoption in recent months. Once predicted to be a long-term prospect for continued growth, worldwide tablet shipments recorded a decline for the second consecutive quarter during the first three months of 2015.  

The figures - which cover tablets and 2-in-1 devices - show overall shipments fell to 47.1 million in Q1 - a 5.9% decline from the same quarter in 2014. Forecasters across the mobile tech industry have tempered their previous predictions accordingly. But what are we to conclude from the tablet downturn? 

One of the main reasons tablets don’t perform as well as smartphones is a much slower ‘refresh rate’ - that is, the amount of time customers hold onto their existing device before upgrading. It’s common to keep using the same tablet for more than three years, and in countries like the United States - where more than 50% of households own a tablet - the decline in sales is particularly keenly felt.

Tablets also fare worse than smartphones in the necessity stakes: smartphones are considered must-have items, while tablets are still regarded as luxury items. Factor in the availability of low-cost, high-performance smartphones that do everything tablets can and more, and it’s not surprising the iPad isn’t having a late surge in popularity.

Speaking of Apple, their introduction of larger displays has undoubtedly dealt a further blow to the tablet market. The iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5 inch display; smaller tablets have 7 inch displays. There aren’t too many apps that would justify buying a tablet for the sake of an extra inch and a half. Larger smartphone displays have eaten into tablet sales.

It’s not all bad news for the large-display market, however. Cellular-enabled tablets are performing better than their non-cellular counterparts, so mobile operators are doing well from the market. Cellular devices are positioning the tablet as a genuine mobile solution, rather than a stay-at-home tool. If larger display smartphones continue to find a niche, it’s not inconceivable that tablets with cellular capabilities could meet them in the middle.

 

Apple Edges Out Samsung in Canadian Smartphone Market

 

The 2015 reports are in, and according to the international authority of leading internet technology company comScore, Canadians prefer Apple smartphones over competitors like Samsung and Blackberry. In comScore’s annual report, titled Canada Digital Future in Focus, the company outlines several metrics explaining how Canadian users navigate the digital world, and to what end. 

Like the rest of North America, Canadian users prefer smartphones to the feature phone predecessor. Eighty-one percent reported owning a smartphone; within that segment, Apple leads in market share at about 38%. Samsung follows in close second at 32.4%. What’s more, Canada’s own creation — the Blackberry — ranks third with less than 9%. 

In another mobile segment—the feature phone—Samsung leads the way with 36.8% market share; LG ranks second with a respectable 25%.  

As for the mobile operating systems, Android enjoys an incredible 50.5% market share; Apple’s iOS follows at about 38%.  

Among other findings, Canadians were shown to prefer mobile devices to desktops for nearly all online activities including: browsing the web, watching videos and playing games. Paralleling this data, tablet usage was shown to have increased as well.

comScore also reported on the activities of users and sited a few notable trends. From December 2013 to December 2014, social media interaction increased by 19% as a result of more smartphones and users increased daily usage of social networks. comScore reports 53% of Canadian users access social networking sites through their smartphones; 48% play games; almost 80% access and share photos; and 52% listen to streaming radio. 

Two notable trends of the report point to a large increase in app usage relating to retail and banking services. Canadians are also shown to use their smartphone or tablet while watching TV. comScore reports that 32.2% of Canadian smartphone users use their phone while watching television; 35% of Canadian tablet users do so while watching television.  

In December of last year, smartphone users equaled nearly 20 million users, a 19% jump from the year prior. But that’s nothing compared to the 56% increases in tablet subscribers, which is now estimated at just under 10 million users. From this critical information, insights and actions will be taken to maximize the digital investments of thousands of companies. But without digging too deep into the data, it’s plain to see that Canada is steadily increasing both its base of smartphone and tablet users. Further, both mobile devices are increasing the mobile access Canadians have to apps and social media.

If nothing else, the report shows clear indications that Canada users are wising up to the speed, ease and portability of mobile devices. 

 

PC Password Security via Mobile

 

In an effort to help individuals secure their digital identities, Yahoo took a leap forward introducing “on-demand” passwords, perhaps the first step towards eliminating passwords altogether. SMS messaging is playing a central role in this development.

Several industry leading tech companies swear by two-factor authentication as the best alternative to regular password protection. Yahoo’s new approach is similar in that user will be sent unique, time sensitive codes through an app or text message when they wish to access their private account.

However, Yahoo users who sign up for this service will become some of the first to do away with primary password protection. When a user wants to log into their account, they’ll simply be sent a password directly to their mobile device—no primary password required.

For some people, this is a great step forward. Having to remember multiple unique passwords can be daunting, especially without the assistance of a password manager. Yahoo’s new feature eliminates the burden of both. 

But don’t get too excited just yet. Users will still be responsible for a few things, including: keeping a charge on their mobile device, ensuring signal access, and protecting the mobile device from other compromises. If those things are manageable, the service is easy to set up and simple to use.

Creating better account security is a hot topic for many tech companies aside from Yahoo. The FIDO Alliance in cooperation with Google and Microsoft are pushing for even further measures to get rid of passwords, experimenting with biometricks like fingerprint and eye scans—the final frontier of protecting our digital identities. Yahoo brings their one-step authentication to the table while these other technologies require further development. 

Yahoo deserves credit for attempting to solve one of the greatest threats on the Internet. Yahoo also updated its end-to-end GPG email encryption plugin back in August. A video posted to YouTube shows users easy comparisons on how to get the plugin working with GPGTools, an exclusive suite fro Mac OS X desktops. 

Unfortunately, this feature will not be available for everyone until the end of 2015. What’s more, the system won’t be enabled on every email. Instead, Yahoo intends the use of this particular security feature will be reserved for sensitive content. 

Whether or not Yahoo’s new on-demand service will take off is yet to be seen. Few would argue that more security isn’t needed when it comes to protecting personal information on the Internet. But until users activate this feature, it does little else than nothing.

 

​Why Are Some iPhone SMS Messages Blue and Some Green?

 

Own an iPhone and always wondered why some messages in the message app are blue and others green? You’re one of (most likely) many.  

The short answer? Blue messages are those sent or received using Apple’s iMessage technology, while green ones are “traditional” text messages exchanged through Short Messaging Service, or SMS. 

If you’re pondering why you should care about this at all, the answer is yes….and no. Let’s start with SMS.

Any standard SMS text message gets delivered over the same voice networks used for phone calls. In days of yore, carriers were charged by the message, usually 10 to 25 cents per text. A fixed number of messages were bundled into a calling plan, whereas now most plans offer unlimited text messaging.  

Eventually Apple launched iMessage, which looks and performs like standard SMS but relied on cellular or WiFi data networks. This provided freedom from carrier rates for SMS if dealing with a capped plan or similar issue, and also offers a sizable set of messaging features. iMessage makes it possible to do things standard SMS simply cannot, such as send walkie-talkie-style voice messages, check message delivery, and whether someone is currently writing you back or not via three dots appearing below the last sent message.  

However, iMessage only works with other iDevice owners. Using the Messages app to contact Android, Windows Phone, and Blackberry users means an automatic switch to SMS mode, or green instead of blue word bubbles.  

Surprisingly, it’s also possible to “see green” even when communicating with a fellow iPhone user. This occurs when iMessage isn’t activated on your or your recipient’s device, or there’s no data network available. If your phone can still connect to a voice tower, it will automatically return to SMS. 

So what does this all mean? Are there times when it makes sense to opt for one messaging method over the other? Text messages may be small, but picture messages often eat a large chunk of data, so if your service plan features unlimited texting but limited data, you may want to switch off iMessage for SMS. The flip side of this is when communicating with other iPhone users and still only seeing green messages. Request that the other person enable their iMessage service so you may enjoy the numerous benefits of said service.  

Many users don’t even know iMessage is “a thing,” and therefore do not realize it’s not enabled. 

 

AT&T’s Text Message Alerts are Too Easy to Mimic

 

AT&T Text Messages are a simple way for AT&T to communicate with its customers. The texts, however, are much too simple and easily duplicated, which presents a big problem for AT&T customers.  

Due to the simple technology of text messages, there is no way to authenticate the identity of the sender. Also, the body of these text messages contains only a brief message that can be mimicked by hackers and scammers. Consumers could be receiving bogus text messages that have links leading to dummy websites, which then steal the customers’ information. 

Essentially, it’s a classic phishing scheme akin to the ones we’ve seen in our email inboxes.

Computer programmer Dani Grant discovered the breach of security when she received a text message from AT&T. “If the official texts look like phishing, it’s impossible for the customer to distinguish between what’s phishing and what’s not,” she said in a recent interview with CNN Money.

Because AT&T’s text messages originate from a “short code” rather than a verifiable phone number, customers have no way of knowing exactly who is trying to alert them. Short codes are four or five digit numbers that can send and receive texts, and can be acquired by anyone – not just cell phone companies.

Furthermore, the links within these text messages are not always obvious links to AT&T’s official site. While AT&T will sometimes use the link “att.com” – clearly a link to their official website – sometimes they will use the URL “dl.mymobilelocate.com.” This creates confusion for the consumer: how is a customer to know if a strange URL will lead back to AT&T’s website, or some dummy site that a hacker created?

Dani Grant went ahead and created her own false website, as well as a fake text message to see if these official AT&T texts could be duplicated. As it turns out, her text message is identical to AT&T’s official alert. Grant then reported this error to AT&T as a security flaw, though they have declined to comment on the matter.

There is no easy solution to this problem. Cell phone companies prefer to use SMS for their alerts because it is inexpensive and has a broad scope in terms of reaching their customers. Clearly, this method of texting is open to security threats, though, so consumers should insist on greater security measures to be taken by their mobile carriers.

Remember, don’t be fooled by all “official” text messages from your service provider, because these messages could be coming from a clandestine source. Carefully monitor messages, and delete when it seems “phishy.” By practicing prudence when interacting over SMS, you can protect yourself from scammers.    

 

Single App Voice & Text Messaging Just Got a Bit Better

 

The Consumer Electronics Show took place in Las Vegas earlier this month. Scores of innovations, from smart homes to smart phones, were unveiled by designers from around the world. 

Text messaging took center stage. Six15 demonstrated their SMS glasses, which transmit text messages from your mobile device straight to the lens, without the need for using hands.  

But perhaps the most exciting new text message-related product was a new dual-purpose messaging app for both Android and iOS devices. UbiSpeak was developed by Unified Computer Intelligence Corporation (UCIC), the people behind The Ubi, a voice-controlled computer.

Using voice recognition software, it generates both a voice message and a text message. If the recipient also has the app, they’ll get both versions of the message; if they don’t have the app, they’ll get the SMS along with a link to the audio version. 

UbiSpeak isn’t the first of its kind - both Android and Apple have their own versions of something similar - but it is faster and more reliable. The makers say two mediums transmitting the same content gives users ‘a lot more confidence when… sending a quick message.’ 

Like a number of messaging apps, it automatically populates your contact list with the people who you text most often. Other features include a VIP contact option, which will automatically play messages from people you designate - even if the phone is locked.

The app marks a new chapter for UCIC. The Toronto-based startup made their name with The Ubi, a WiFi connected, voice operated computer that uses Android to process spoken commands. You can operate your lighting, for instance, so you can always get that basement light to go on when you’ve got your arms full. Their technology is pretty smart - and it gets better at understanding you over time. 

UbiSpeak (and it’s forbear) is far from perfect, because speech recognition technology is proving one of the hardest nuts to crack. Progress is slow, and it may be decades before truly accurate voice recognition hardware is available. But that’s why it’s even more important that pioneers like UCIC keep pushing boundaries. The more consumers use voice recognition apps and home computers, the more data we can draw on to find out how people use them. In the long run, that will expedite the slow progression towards flawless, 100% accurate voice recognition technology.