The Mobile Marketing Blog - TellMyCell

Apple Is Finally Making a Budget Phone

 

In late January, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple had achieved its most successful quarter—an impressive $76 billion in revenue and $18.4 billion in profits. Sounds pretty good, right? But what else would we expect from the one of most innovative companies in mobile technology? After all, the company has earned the title of “world’s most valuable,” and by all accounts it’s the most successful company of the 21^st century. 

So, if profits are sky high, and more products like the Apple Watch are in the works, why would Apple release a budget device last week?

 

What’s in a Name?

Before we get into why Apple would release a budget smartphone, let’s take a look at the device itself. The iPhone SE is the cheapest phone Apple has ever introduced to market. Basic specs include a modest 4-inch screen, 326 ppi, embedded M9 motion processor, 12-megapixle iSight camera, and Touch ID on the Home button. 

Truth be told, this phone isn’t exactly new. Said Kate Knibbs of Gizmodo, “There is nothing new or distinctive in the size, shape, look, hardware, or software of the iPhone SE.”

Apple’s ‘new’ budget phone is more-or-less the iPhone 5S, but it’s been relabeled a low-cost smartphone to meet specific market trends that could otherwise cause problems for the company.

 

The Big Picture

Apple closed a huge quarter in December of last year. While it was, strictly speaking, the most profitable quarter the company had ever seen, these four months were only about 2 percent more profitable than the same time from the year before. 

This information is relevant for a few reasons. Apple’s year-over-year trends between 2010 and 2015 were far more significant. For example, between 2014 and 2015, Apple enjoyed a 30 percent increase in sales, and revenues were skyrocketing fivefold in some cases. But that’s not what we’re seeing from the company anymore. 

Apple has done a great job of maintaining the company’s position as a luxury brand—new phones usually go for as much as $650, a hard pill to swallow if you’re used to operating a cheaper device. The 16GB iPhone SE will cost about $399, with payment plan options available. Apple’s even offering free phones for people who sign up for a special two-year contract. So, how does this fit into the big picture of why Apple is offering a budget phone at all?

 

Why Now?

Until recently, Apple’s product lifecycle was pretty short—people would get a new phone before there was anything wrong with the old one. But that’s slowing down on several fronts, particularly in China, where budget phones have become increasingly successful.

If the product lifecycle is lengthened, Apple has no choice but to go after new users, users who may prefer smaller devices, or users who could never afford a $650 phone. 

Repacking old phone iterations isn’t a bad idea—but it certainly makes you wonder why the phone was so much more money in the first place. In some ways, this undermines the company’s luxury branding, cheapening the value of each new device or wearable that comes to market. If everyone has an iPhone, it’s hard to call one a luxury item. 

 

Israel Launches Distress App with Texting and Video Capabilities

Mobile technology is increasingly being used by police departments and first response units across the United States. Text 911 in particular has proven highly successful, often in emergency situations where texting is the safest option.

Now, emergency responders across the world are following suit. Israel is the latest country to introduce various text message services, but they’ve gone further still, with live video distress call capabilities. The first-of-its kind service could be a real boon not just to citizens in trouble, but as part of evidence gathering that could help convict offenders.

Until now, Israel - like most countries - has used an outdated emergency call system, which only takes voice calls. By not making full use of the technology available to the vast majority of the public, emergency services respond more slowly, with a greater a risk of miscommunication, wasted resources and, ultimately, a citizenry that isn’t as safe as it could be.

Israel sought to improve the situation when it launched its groundbreaking platform across the country earlier this month. It enables emergency operators to see a live video stream of whatever crime or crimes are unfolding, as well as communicate with victims via text message and precisely locate where help is needed.

Available as a phone app, the country hopes to export the technology around the world. And in an unstable geopolitical climate, with mass casualty events unfolding everywhere you look, the potential is obvious - not least in the United States, where some 240 million 911 emergency calls are placed every year. Without geo location technology, the best emergency responders can do (in the event of receiving a call where the caller can’t provide information) is locate the closest cell tower. Accuracy is changeable, and never perfect - a huge problem in an emergency situation where every second counts.

5 Things Healthcare Professionals Want From Mobile Tech

Electronic health records (EHRs) are digital tech cornerstones for many in the healthcare industry. However, physicians cite several complaints regarding these records. These include patient management, communication, and scheduling issues, among others. Physicians are subsequently calling for numerous mobile tech reforms to make their jobs easier, with the top five including: 

 

1. Privacy and Security

Privacy and security are among the top physician concerns in terms of EHRs. Physicians often use smartphones to access patient records, communicate with members of their staff, and handle personal communications. Keeping patient information secure and confidential is an essential component of the healthcare industry, and mobile tech must ensure the information remains private. Samsung’s KNOX Workspace is among the containerization solutions utilized so physicians may separate professional communications from private ones while still using the same device. 

 

2. Patient Management Medical Apps

Physicians increasingly use apps that make it simple for patients to share data about their medical conditions, such as diabetes and COPD, and learn more about them. These apps must be able to connect with EHRs for physicians and patients to use them effectively. 

 

3. Patient Scheduling Tools

Device-based appointment scheduling tools are something both physicians and patients applaud as highly convenient, as they seriously decrease no-shows and therefore assorted costs. ZocDoc is one example, with the app allowing patients to schedule appointments and enjoy connections with medical facilities. It also allows physicians to further advertise their services and ensure patients remember the days and times of their appointments. If a patient must cancel, the medical facility can easily schedule another patient in the time slot. 

 

4. Reference Tools and Journals

Physicians often use mobile tools for reference reasons. The ability to access medical journals, reference data, textbooks, and other continuing education materials through mobile means is an invaluable asset to physicians, as it increases efficiency as well as convenience. 

 

5. Remote Patient Monitoring

Physicians also want remote patient monitoring, which is now available on their smartphones in addition to their patients’ devices. Longer-term data trends regarding blood pressure, weight, glucose management, and heart rate offer assistance and guidance in between doctors’ visits, resulting in improved care and patient safety. A great example is a patient being able to view his or her insulin pump data on a smartphone, and wirelessly transmit the data from implantable pacemakers and defibrillators.

The ability to communicate with patients, access important resources, schedule and re-schedule appointments, and more equals the ability to transform the healthcare industry and arguably make the jobs of physicians around the country much more streamlined. The healthcare industry is considered “late to the game” in regards to mobile tech use, however both physicians and their patients are eager to see changes implemented. Making certain mobile options for physicians and patients are completely secure is probably the most important issue of the moment, with many more convenient possibilities likely to follow once the security issue is resolved. Physicians are quite tech-happy, after all. 

TCPA: What Your Business Needs to Know (TMC)

Bulk text messaging is a useful addition to any mobile marketing strategy - but there are rules and regulations to be understood before deploying this powerful technology. Understanding telephony law is crucial if you don’t want to be hit with a lawsuit.

The power of a text blast lies in the way SMS messaging is consumed. Most text messages are opened and read within minutes of receipt, and it remains a highly personalized, spam free medium. The ability to deliver tailored brand messages direct to consumer’s palms is attractive to businesses in practically any industry. 

To continue reaping the manifold benefits of bulk text messaging without the headache of costly legal action, it’s important to understand what the law says:

 

Text Blasts and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (TCPA) requires commercial interests to gain consent before sending text messages to an individual’s phone or other mobile device (when the legislation first passed it related only to landline telephony, but was updated in 2012 to reflect the growing commercial use of bulk text messaging as a marketing tool). 

The TCPA is a Federal law. It prohibits unsolicited calls and tex messages, with anyone found in breach of the law facing up to $1500 in statutory damages for each violation. If you step on the wrong side of the law during a text blast campaign, it could be very expensive indeed. Bear in mind also that recipients of unsolicited text messages are not required by the law to prove any harm was done - the damages apply irrespective.

It’s easy to see how falling afoul of the TCPA could ruin a business. Even small businesses are now running bulk text messaging campaigns in which thousands of messages are sent. The costs are appealingly low compared with other forms of advertising - providing the campaign abides by the law. Take a wrong step and it would be a financial disaster.

If you’re thinking about sending a text blast to promote your business, make sure you’re TCPA compliant before setting up a campaign. Failure to do so could result in a very expensive settlement. To protect your business, acquaint yourself with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act before you embark on any bulk text messaging campaign.

Two Samsung Devices Launched in India This Month

Samsung has launched two more flagship devices, the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, which will make their way to the Indian market in the second week of March. The mobile device juggernaut is hoping to improve sales and breathe new life into the slowing smartphone industry. 

 

An Important Market

India is recognized as an important market with regard to virtual reality handsets, and the country is seeing an increase in sales despite the current global sale decrease. Research firm IDC notes that the global smartphone market saw shipments increasing from 1.30 million units in 2014 10.1 percent to 1.43 billion units in 2015. India is currently one of the world’s fastest-growing global markets thanks to shipments increasing by 28.8 percent in 2015 to 103.6 million units over the previous year.

Samsung is a leader in both the Indian and global markets, as it had over 21.4 percent of the global market share by the end of the December 2015 quarter. The company has a 26.8 percent share in India. 

 

More “Convenient and Fun” 

Samsung Electronics President of Mobile Communications Business, DJ Koh, notes that the tech giant believes in a world that’s “brighter, sharper, more convenient, and more fun.” Samsung continually aims to deliver on this vision via the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 by combining functionality with elegant design. The intended result is a “seamless mobile experience.” 

Both phones feature the first dual pixel camera on a smartphone, which is designed to produce brighter and sharper images whatever the light situation due to their apertures opening wider and letting in more light. These phones’ shutters don’t require staying open as long, which significantly reduces the chances of blurry images. The Galaxy S7 is 5.1 inches, while the Galaxy S7 Edge is 5.5 inches. Each features 3D glass and metal construction, and is dust and water-resistant. 

There’s also a hybrid SIM card tray that allows you to insert a microSD card for up to 200GB of additional storage. In some countries, the tray may be used in conjunction with a dual SIM card. Both phones work with the $100 Gear virtual reality headset Samsung unveiled last fall. Additionally, the tech company is working on a 360-degree camera that makes it possible for anyone to capture and share virtual reality images. The Gear 360 camera will be available within a few months.

 

Teaming With Facebook

Samsung is currently working with Facebook to stress the virtual reality aspect of mobile phones and social media platforms. Mark Zuckerberg joined Samsung at the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain, to announce the partnership, where he noted that while virtual reality has mainly been used for gaming purposes, its role is changing. This is why Facebook is making the investment: to “deliver these social experiences.” 

The new phones begin shipping on March 1, and Samsung is offering advanced order options. Free Gear VR headsets will be available in some markets to those who place advanced orders, including the U.S. 

 

Getting Fit? There are Multiple Apps for That

There are about a billion excuses to choose from if you’re trying to avoid the gym. 

Lucky for you, there’s an app out there to help make your personal fitness struggle more manageable and more fun. Whether you’re an overeater, late night drinker, or just need help staying motivated, there’s no better time to get in shape, thanks to these useful fitness apps. 

 

For the Overeater 

Who has time to keep a food journal or attend weekly meetings with a support group? The Rise app, available for iOS, is the easiest way to manage eating behavior and gain professional guidance from a registered dietician from your smart device. For about $20 a month, you can snap pictures of all your meals and send them to your personal dietician. He or she will review your meals and make healthy suggestions that align with your discussed fitness goals.

Also for the overeater, Amount is a nifty app that lets you convert serving sizes on all your favorite recipes so you’re able to stick to portions that will keep you on track. The app is 99 cents and available for iOS. 

 

For the Unmotivated 

A lot of people complain that working out isn’t fun. More fun means better workouts, and what’s more fun than running from zombies? Zombies, Run! 3 is a popular app that mixes fun gamification features with an easy-to-use interface. Every step and every mile awards you points, supplies, and tools to defend against the Zombie attack. With more than one million runners already playing, this is a way to join a community committed to fun and fitness. Get Zombies, Run! 3 on Android and iOS for $3.99. 

Feeling a bit philanthropic? Motivate your workout routine with Charity Miles, an app that donates money to nonprofits with every mile you run, walk, or bike. Pick your charity and get moving—these small contributions add up to big change for participating charities. Get Charity Miles for free on iOS and Android. 

 

For the Busy-Body 

Between working a 9-to-5 job and spending time with family and friends, just finding the time to go to the gym can be extremely difficult. Busybodies need help organizing their schedule and staying on track. Sunrise is an app that connects all your calendars from social media and email into one convenient app. Manage your gym time around your schedule and never miss picking up the kids from soccer practice again. 

Vida is another great option for people on the go. Pick a personal trainer that fits your lifestyle. Then, discuss your fitness goals—from managing serious weight loss to improving chronic conditions like diabetes. You can chat or Face Time with your trainer when it’s convenient for you and keep track of your progress using Apple’s Heath Kit. For $15 a week, Vida is a great bargain for busy men and women. 

Everyone’s got an excuse. This year, you can overcome yours with these useful fitness apps. 

 

 

The Apps Taking the Stress Out of Bill-Splitting

Splitting the bill at a restaurant or anywhere else is generally aggravating for everyone involved, and that certainly includes staff. Several apps are taking the headache out of bill splitting and allow patrons to easily determine who owes what. 

Let’s review some of these apps and what makes them so cool: 

 

Splittr

This $2 iPhone app makes figuring out who owes what for food, hotel rooms, gas, and pretty much any other payments much simpler. The app requires a user to create a trip or event and then add expenses for the activity. The next step is to add the people involved in the trip/event and note what each person has contributed so far. The app determine’s each person’s balance, as well as what is still owed. 

 

Lovely

This free iOS/Android app offers an automated rent payment option entitled Pay With Lovely. Simply enter your rent amount and the landlord’s contact information to create automatic monthly payments. You’ll receive notice five days before the transaction occurs, as well as when the payment is made and when the landlord makes his or her deposit. 

 

Venmo

Venmo is another free iOS/Android option that makes paying friends back—or sending rent money—an easier process. You can either receive money through the app, or send what amounts to invoices requesting funds. Using the app on the iPhone 7 allows you to make payments to nearby friends via Bluetooth. While Venmo was recently acquired by PayPal, it’s a great deal more streamlined than PayPal’s app. 

 

GroupMe

This app’s Collect Money feature takes the awkwardness out of requesting funds after an event, such as a huge dinner or ski trip. Just click on the paperclip icon next to the Message Compose field, hit ‘Collect,’ and enter who owes what. Friends and family pay with their credit cards, and you’ll receive a message when everyone has put in his or her share. Custom links over the web are provided to party members who do not have the app. If you’re planning on using GroupMe, keep in mind that there’s a 3.5 percent credit card charge, as well as a $.30 charge for every paying individual. 

 

Google Wallet and Square Cash

Google Wallet allows you to send and receive money via email. Square Cash provides the same service but requires linking your debit card to your account and then entering email addresses of recipients along with Cc [email protected]. Simply enter the amount owed on the subject line. 

 

Pay-At-The-Table Apps

The days of using the air signature gesture to get your bill at a restaurant could be coming to an end, thanks to pay-at-the-table apps. Four-digit codes are provided to restaurants by the apps, though QR barcodes and table numbers can also be used. Payments are made through pre-loaded links to debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay, or PayPal and allow patrons to split the bill as needed. 

Are the days of annoying bill-splitting problems over? We can only hope.

 

Telus Promises Record-Breaking Refund in Premium Text Message Probe

Have you ever felt like your wireless carrier was ripping you off? That’s exactly what happened to thousands of former customers of three leading Canadian-based telecommunication companies. The Competition Bureau, a telecom watchdog, brought the investigation to focus in late 2015, when it challenged Telus to refund customer for charges made for premium text messaging services like ringtones and trivia games. The Bureau were originally seeking $10 million in customer rebates, but settled after Telus, a Vancouver-based telecom giant, offered $7.34 million, the largest-ever settlement reached by the organization. 

According to one report, while Telus did not personally gain from these premium services, they did support advertising (pop-up ads, apps and on social media) that misled their customers into signing up for subscriptions costing up to $40. After a five-month investigation, the bureau said third party providers collected these fees. Current and previous customers of Telus will be contacted soon to collect their rebates.

 

Score one for the consumers!

Meanwhile, there’s other shady behavior to report from our telecom neighbors to the north. In addition to the Telus investigation, the bureau is also investigating Rogers and Bell, for similar illegal charges collected by a third party. In March of 2015, Rogers agreed to pay $5.42 million in damages. The Bell investigation is ongoing. 

 

Lessons for Consumers

There are a few major takeaways from this telecom debacle that everyone should pay attention to. First, let this be a lesson to everyone enrolled in a carrier’s auto pay system. Never looking at a bill or service charges could mean you’re getting charged for services you don’t know about. If you don’t look for these fraudulent charges, you’re only going to notice them when they’ve impacted your checking account. Make an effort to observe and understand your usage fees and extra charges each month to avoid accidentally paying a third party for ringtones and apps you don’t want. 

Also, this event serves as a huge wake-up call to people in Canada (as well as the U.S.) that these large telecommunications conglomerates are trouble if not supervised or regulated. The carriers are conduits used to exploit their customers. While they get slapped on the hand with a hefty fine, third party offenders are none the worse for wear. It’s important that illegal charges like the ones in Canada be taken seriously by the general public.

In a time when cell phones have become less a personal preference and more a living necessity, it’s imperative that the public is protected against the potential wrongdoing of the telecommunication companies at home and abroad. We rely on them every day to make our lives run smoothly, each carrier is extremely profitable, and yet they would allow this kind of behavior to occur again and again. 

Until we can ensure regulatory action to prevent these types of fees and charges, all individuals should be looking at their cell phone bills to ensure they don’t become victims.

Last Call for Motorola

The Motorola brand will soon be no more. Smartphone manufacturer Lenovo is giving the U.S. mobile phone trailblazer’s name the ol’ heave-ho due to an acquisition over two years old. 

Motorola invented the cell phone, with famous creations including the flip phone, the Razr, and the iconic Brick. David Beckham is one of many well-known faces who enjoyed the Razr. 

Lenovo is a smartphone and laptop manufacturer based in China that purchased Motorola from Google in January of 2014. It launched the Moto G at the start of 2014 with success, and took Motorola from a near-0 percent market share to a 6 percent share of sales in the UK. Motorola moved over 10 million smartphones in 2014’s third quarter, thanks to the popularity of the Moto G. 

 

The Future of Moto

Despite this success, Lenovo has decided to get rid of the Motorola name, though it will keep ‘Moto.’ All subsequent Motorola phones will fall under the Lenovo brand name. Moto will join Lenovo’s Vibe line, however what will become of the Moto E and G is still unknown. The manufacturer’s Motorola Mobility division will subsequently oversee their entire range of smartphones. 

A spokesperson for Lenovo commented that Motorola Mobility continues to exist as part of the company and serves as the engineering and design foundation for all of their mobile products. 

Reception to this news has been mixed. Many believe the end of Motorola is the end of an era regarding smartphone innovation, but that doesn’t mean the brand wasn’t flailing considerably over the past several years. Kantar WorldPanel analyst Carolina Milanesi noted that, while Lenovo is a decent brand, Motorola is an icon of the mobile phone world, and getting away from that might not be the best idea.

Ironically, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing remarked that Motorola was the manufacturer’s “treasure” following the acquisition, and that they planned to protect the Motorola brand and make it stronger than ever.

Regardless, the Moto option is popular among Android fans, and the decision to kill the Motorola brand is likely a way to emphasize Moto. It’s also a chance for consumers to familiarize themselves with the Lenovo brand, which despite being the largest PC manufacturer in the world is still virtually unknown in terms of cell phones and other mobile devices. 

Lenovo will introduce the Moto as a high-end product, and simultaneously push its Vibe phone brand in the Moto market. Relationships and sales channels within Motorola territories will be used to market Vibe phones costing less than $100. Motorola Chief Operating Officer Rick Osterloh said he intends to bring Vibe options to the U.S. market, though it probably won’t happen in 2016. Osterloh compared Lenovo’s strategy to the coexistence of Banana Republic and Old Navy, which are both owned by Gap. 

He remarked that failing to cover the market from top to bottom didn’t make a whole lot of sense.

If you owned a Motorola Razr, StarTac, or even Rokr, the Motorola iTunes phone, you’re probably feeling a bit nostalgic at the moment. 

 

 

 

Roadtesting Handsfree Texting: Apple vs. Android

If you’re like me, and most other busy professionals, multitasking needs to be as innate as breathing. Whether I’m scanning morning emails while making breakfast, driving to an appointment while taking a conference call, or simply doing three things at once because I want to, the fact of the matter is sometimes, I need a little help. 

When Apple introduced Siri in 2011, I thought my life would never be the same. You remember the TV advertisements, don’t you? It was going to be like having an unpaid personal assistant at my side every day, forever and ever. 

And then I met Siri, and we hardly ever spoke. 

Since 2011, each update of Siri has been a little better. And now that Google has provided Android users with the same hands free convenience, I figured it was time to test out my old acquaintance and try her new competitor Google Now. 

Here are the results from my hands free road test:

 

Miss-communication 

One of the obvious problems I observed in 2011 was Siri’s lack of contextual awareness. Siri repeatedly misunderstood my requests, did not provide relevant answers, and ultimately didn’t make my life easier (or anyone’s, for that matter.) Today I find this has improved, but not as much as I would like.

Siri’s only redeeming quality: snarky comments and bedtime stories. 

On the other hand, Google Now has a better success rate on basic inquires, although some miscommunication still occurs. What Google Now lacks in personality, it makes up for in actuary and readiness—a huge win for Android. 

Apple fans do not despair. Siri’s next iteration will include Proactive, which is tailored to help Siri understand more complicated requests. In the future, this could push Apple into the lead. Until then, for easy hands-free texting, my vote goes to Android.

 

Command Central 

Aside from ensuring the inquiries are received correctly, what about the actual command process? Which one is easier to use? 

If you use an iPhone and want Siri to read your most recent text message, first you must ensure the “Hey Siri” feature is turned on in the settings menu. Then all you have to do is say “Hey Siri” and ask her to “read my text messages.” 

From there she will recite your message, and follow by asking if you’d like to send a response message, which you can dictate and send. 

No big deal. 

Similarly, Google Now incorporates almost the same exact commands. Just say, “Ok Google, show me my last messages” and you’re off to the races. Your phone will tell you whom the text message is from and read it aloud to you. It then asks if you would like to respond, listen again, or delete the message. 

There’s no distinct winner here in my book. The commands and utility of this hands-free feature are more or less the same, less the activation required to speak directly to Siri. But that’s not such a bad thing. It’s good to know you can turn off these features if and when I need to. 

This one’s a draw. 

 

Nosey Neighbors  

Call me old fashioned but I don’t like Google knowing every detail of my personal or professional life. Google Now has brought up considerable concern regarding privacy issues, which may (or may not) take place all the time while you’re using Google and their associated platforms and services. 

Google Now is no different. It’s scanning your calendar to make appointments, looking through text conversation and images to arrange context for the most sophisticated responses. 

While there are currently no outstanding lawsuits about the matter, it’s clear that for some users this may be an issue. 

Siri may be slow, but she’s no nark—one point for Apple. 

Things are all tied up it would seem. The good news is that my hands are freer than ever before to multitask, thanks to the latest hands free texting apps via Apple and Android. But don’t take my word for it—try them both out yourself.