next2friendsblog.com

Here is a brief tutorial on how to download and install Next2Friends onto your mobile device:

Downloading and installing Next2Friends is easy! In case you miss it in the tutorial navigate to this link from your mobile:

www.Next2Friends.com/m.html

And see my coming tutorials on how to use the various services Next2Friends has to offer. Start doing great things with your mobile like Live Video Streaming with Next2Friends Live or quick and easy uploads to your profile with Next2Friends Snap-Up. See why the revolution will be televised…and mobile!

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

Dell and Ericcson have announced that they will be teaming up to bring HSPA connectivity to the laptop world. Laptops made by Dell will begin appearing on the market in the 2nd quarter of 2008 with tri-band modules made by Ericcson that can access many of the mobile HSPA networks throughout the world. HSPA, or High Speed Packet Access, is a global term that encompasses improvements in UMTS protocols.

There is a growing feeling that the traditional separation between internet providers and mobile network providers will continue to blur. This announcement further pushes the point that in the coming years, we will access the internet from a variety of devices, through a variety of portals. Indeed, the ability to access media-rich internet through a robust connection from virtually anywhere will increasingly drive adoption.

The future looks very promising for Social Mobile sites such as Next2Friends that are positioned right at the intersection of Mobile Technology and Social Networking. Not only will more robust networks mean enhanced video streams from services such as Next2Friends Live, but greater connectivity could revolutionize the way we work, play, and socialize.

By 2011, it is estimated that 200 million laptops will ship and Ericsson hopes that half of those will feature HSPA connectivity.

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

What WiMAX Will Mean

Yesterday Sprint and Clearmobile announced that they will be teaming up with the support of Google, Intel, Comcast, Time Warner, and Brighthouse Networks to create a WiMAX network. WiMAX networks are greatly improved wireless data networks that promise to deliver at speeds far greater than even cable or DSL currently can. This will have a tremendous effect on just about every aspect of how we interact with the Internet. Suddenly Mobile Devices will be multi-media, internet kiosks, delivering everything from movies to social networks to phone calls. And add to that the enormous surge in users the Internet will see as greater numbers of people gain access through their mobile devices. In developing countries mobile access to the Internet will be the only point of access for millions of people who can’t afford a laptop or personal computer. This trend has already begun.

What WiMAX Will Mean for Next2Friends

A Live Broadcast from Mobile to Next2Friends

The exciting twist in this tale is that Mobile Social Networks like Next2Friends are sitting right at this crossroads. Fusing Mobile Technology with the Internet is easily the next chapter in the Internet’s biography and the promise of more robust networks will write this story. And here is why Next2Friends Live will thrive on a more robust network: Next2Friends Live is completely scalable. Unlike our competitors we do not utilize buffered streams. Our broadcasts are completely, totally and truly live from mobile. And as the amount of data the network can pass inflates, so does our video and audio quality. My Nokia N95 already can shoot 30 frames per second video, there is no reason that with a greater data pipeline on the scale that WiMAX is promising, Next2Friends Live can’t soon broadcast full 30 frames per second video with CD quality audio or greater. And then it’s anyone’s guess what comes after that…of course we have a few ideas:)

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

A few things have inspired me to write on this subject. First, my mounting frustration with Time Warner Cable as my internet connection intermittently comes in and out. Second, the numerous reports (here and here) on the explosion of mobile phone use throughout the world. And third, the announcement that Nokia Siemens and Pirelli Broadband Solutions are teaming up to create a box to enhance 3G signals in buildings.

Nokia and Pirelli’s Plan

The plan appears to be to release boxes that would amplify 3G signals inside homes and offices using the new Femtocell technology. The boxes would be installed in the space where you are trying to boost your connection to the network, much like a modem or a WIFI device. I would have questioned the need for such a device a few weeks ago but as I struggled against intermittent internet service through my cable modem I was left trying to figure out alternative ways to connect to the internet at extremely work-critical times.

When Wireless Providers Become Internet Providers

My 3G connection in New York city is about as fast as a slow DSL connection and left with no other choice I found myself researching what it would take to turn my phone into a wireless modem. It didn’t quite work and didn’t save me from a trip up to Starbucks (I have an older Apple laptop without Bluetooth) but it got me thinking. Wireless network providers are truly beginning to compete with cable, DSL, and satellite internet providers. And their competitiveness will only improve as 3.5G and 4G networks come online.

Not only will these more robust networks mean great things for the growing list of useful mobile platforms and applications like Next2Friends, but there are indications that internet access might skip over PC’s and Laptops entirely in developing countries and go straight to mobile. All this is a little bit off into the future, but perhaps not that far off. At the very least I foresee a future where wireless providers at least augment our ability to connect to the internet. But really, I just wanted to save myself a 20 minute walk up to the coffee shop.

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

The list of companies that seem to support the notion that the next step for Social Networking will be to fully integrate with Mobile Technology just keeps growing. Today Nokia and T-Mobile announced a partnership aimed at increasing the availability of new Internet Services and personal social communities on mobile devices.

The collaboration is supposed to drive Mobile Social Networking by offering easier access to T-Mobile’s Web ‘n Walk services and Nokia’s Ovi services. The Web ‘n Walk service offers users access to their preferred internet and messaging services while Ovi encompasses Nokia’s music, maps and game applications.

There is little doubt that Mobile Technology will see explosive growth in the coming years. Reports come out almost daily confirming that the Mobile Technology is spreading rapidly. There is even evidence that Mobile Technology might supplant many of the ways that people utilize their personal computer. And in many developing countries mobile infrastructure may be the first and only way that people can access the internet.

So it is not surprising that two of the major players in the Mobile world are forging an alliance aimed at fueling internet and data usage growth. What is surprising is that their vision seems a bit limited. One of the largest phone manufacturers and one of the largest service providers team up and all they do is offer a sort of user cross-pollination utility swap?

But that may be where Social Mobile Networks such as Next2Friends come into play, driving the integration of Social and Mobile in truly innovative ways. The ability to create media-rich blogs from a mobile device, the ability to stream live video and the seamless integration between a user’s profile and their mobile device are the kinds of applications that will truly drive internet and data usage from mobile.

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

We’ve been having so much fun with all the videos that have been submitted that we’ve decided to extend the deadline for the Next2Friends Most Creative Video Contest! We are pushing the deadline to May 31st, 2008. That’s one more month to showcase the talents of the Next2Friends community. Here are a couple of videos that have been submitted so far. My including them here has no bearing on their prospects for winning. I am not a judge of the contest, I’m merely showing the diverse style of videos we have been receiving. We welcome any and all videos for our contest! So keep the submissions coming!

Here’s one from the Quizbowl team:

And here’s another one that is totally of a different style by Next2Friends user Naren:

Remember you could win the following prizes:The 1st place winner will receive an Apple iPod Touch, a $150 iTunes voucher and a Next2Friends T-Shirt.

The 2nd place winner will receive a $100 iTunes voucher and a Next2Friends T-Shirt.

The 3rd place winner will receive a $50 iTunes voucher and a Next2Friends T-Shirt.

For complete details visit this previous post:

The Next2Friends Most Creative Video Contest Details

Good luck and keep them coming!

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

A recent publication by Juniper Research asserts that Mobile Coupons will soon flood the wireless world, and that by 2011, 3 billion will have been issued with an estimated savings of nearly $7 billion.

The advantages to Mobile Coupons are quite clear. Digital Delivery makes them nearly free, greatly reducing the cost of advertising campaigns. They have a higher conversion rate due to the fact that they are delivered to, stored, and redeemed using a customer’s mobile phone, they show an increase in Average Revenue Per Unit, and they greatly reduce customer fraud.

Juniper also identifies some of the obstacles standing in the way of Mobile Coupon adoption. Some retailers have resisted the move because it would require that they update older laser scanner technology that doesn’t recognize the newer CCD codes delivered as Mobile Coupons.

What is notably absent from the report is any mention of the enormous possibilities that Proximity-Based Marketing will hold for the future of advertising and specifically Mobile Coupons. Real-Time Proximity awareness could allow retailers to broadcast Mobile Coupons to users when it matters most; when they are in the vicinity of their store. Further, Mobile Social Networks like Next2Friends can interface with user data so that the coupons sent are actually relevant to the likes and needs of the user. This will have far reaching implications in centers of dense retail space such as malls.

Mobile Coupons will surly revolutionize the concept of the coupon, but by failing to address the greater possibilities of Proximity-Based Marketing, Juniper may have underestimated their reach. Of course, time will tell.

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

China Mobile Ltd., the biggest wireless provider in China reported a surge in profits driven by a growing user base in rural areas. China has some 520 million mobile users currently and that number is expected to keep climbing. According to the announcement made today, China Mobile has seen a 37.2% increase in first quarter profits.

“Through our continuous expansion into the rural market, our subscriber growth maintains a strong growth momentum and the average monthly net additional subscribers for the first quarter reached 7.60 million, representing an increase of 33.9% compared to the average monthly net additional subscribers of 5.68 million of last year,” says the first quarter Operational Data sheet.

They go on to caution that the mainly rural users that this increase represents added up to a slight decrease in average revenue per minute due to the low-end nature of usage. Regardless, the growth in China’s mobile usage is only expected to rise as more robust networks come online. Beijing and seven other cities have been testing a 3G network that follows China’s own TD-SCDMA protocol. This will have far reaching ramifications for Mobile Social Networks such as Next2Friends which enable an ever growing array of options for mobile users like live streamed video from mobile devices.

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

Next2Friends has had a face lift! The first thing you’ll notice is the much clearer home page. We’ve recognized the need for something a little clearer and simpler for a while and are quite happy with the modifications. You’ll notice a very clear delineation of all the things you can do with Next2Friends:

There is also a very simple explanation of how to use Next2Friends Live, the only way to broadcast and upload video from your cell phone that is TRULY live, not delayed buffered streams!

And there is an ever-increasing list of updated features like the new Dash that allows you to keep track of all the latest moves your friends make. Think media-rich News Feed:

And real cool new Profile changes such as the ability to adjust and edit your avatar and, my personal favorite, the ability to Blog from within your profile!

And that’s just the surface. Underneath it all is the fact that Next2Friends is an exciting intersection of Social Networking and Mobile Technology like none other!

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.Next2Friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com

Do we need any more evidence that cell phones are becoming the most important piece of technology today? The Federal Government has approved TracFone Inc. to supply cell phone service to low income people in 10 states. Commissioners approved the action on Wednesday and said that TracFone met the eligibility requirements needed to participate in it’s program to subsidize low income users.

TracFone will be reimbursed for the losses it incurs through the federal Universal Service Fund, which aids in providing telephone service to high-cost areas, such as rural and low-income urban communities.

TracFone will begin offering it’s discounted service to customers in NewYork, Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachuesettes, North Carolina, Deleware, New Hampshire, Tennesee, and Washington, D.C.

There is growing concern that the poor are at a considerable disadvantage because of their lack of access to the internet. With the cost of owning a computer and an internet connection still too high for most of America’s poor it looks as though access to cellular technology could be a step in the right direction. Cell phone technology is improving at break-neck speeds and could possibly be an alternative way for people to gain valuable access to the internet.

TracFone currently has 9.5 million customers in the U.S. but with the announcement of their participation in the FCC’s program, I’m sure they can expect to see quite a bump in usage. I hope this program helps the disadvantaged. It looks to be a great start!

Real Life,

Real Time,

Real People,

www.next2friends.com

Hans Erik
Content Marketing Director
Hans at Next2Friends dot com