BilltoMobile Expands Carrier Billing Options for Verizon Customers

BilltoMobile is very attractive offering to US mobile operators, as it manages the part of negotiating deals with the merchants to offer carrier billing. Unlike, premium SMS models, BilltoMobile directly integrated with billing and authentication sub systems, which reduce direct cost to merchants. BilltoMobile's partnership agreement with Boku and Zong gives more number of retailers offering carrier billing with mutiple options for the end user. The only concern is, the multi stage value chain (boku to billtomobile to verizon) may increase to end user cost of service.

Ford explores Talking Cars concept

Last few years, automotive industry became active in communication technology integration. Manufacturers like Toyota, Hyundai started working on competitive products to fords infotainment technology called SYNC. Ford is looking for new differentiating features. Talking cars may be novel idea in terms of increasing safety. Ford exploring a hybrid technology combined with GPS and Wifi signals. This type of initiatives may require industry wide adoption, at the same time ford needs some differentiation. Lets hope “Talking cars” can be a reality by 2015.

AT&T to launch cell phone trade-in program

Handset trade-in program do exist for a while. Nokia partnered with a company named FlipSwap to do cell-phone trading. This type of program is an enhanced version of Cell phone recycling programs. Trade-in is some what cultural concept in US. It might give little push to consumers to upgrade their phone hence the plan. Offering $10 to $50 to make the users to upgrade their contract 2 more years is well worth the investment.

Google sets its top 2011 priorities on mobile

The three major strategic initiatives outlined by Google CEO are 1) LTE development 2) Mobile Money and 3) increase availability of inexpensive smart phones. I am not exactly sure about the new applications Google wants to bring on top of LTE networks apart from video delivery, the rest of the objectives are straightforward. With respective "Mobile Money", Google and Apple are actively looking to acquire some start-ups in the space. Apple tries to snatch Boku from Google mouth, on the other hand Google started experimenting NFC internally with their new Nexus S Smartphone. Google’s focus on emerging markets might be little challenging, as most of the phones are not sold through operators in emerging markets. Overall, 2011 can be a year where Mobile money can take center stage in western markets.