iWar: Battle of the Titans
The long awaited and much anticipated day that I have been dreaming of for the past few years is finally here. No, not my college graduation, but the iPhone at Verizon! If there was a way to make bells ring in the sky I would, although I’m sure there is an app for that.
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iPhone Photography
Pete Barrett isn’t only a good photographer with his fancy, professional cameras. He’s got a collection of pics he’s taken with an iPhone. Retouched, but still, taken with an iPhone. Take a look on his iphonephoto blog: http://petebarrettiphonephotos.blogspot.com/
WWDC Sold Out
Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference sells out for the third straight year in a record-breaking eight days. Not a good sign for Flash.
TIMA Lunch & Learn to Feature Apple on Mobile Marketing
The Triangle Interactive Marketing Association’s (TIMA) May “Lunch & Learn” will feature Francis Shepherd, Senior System Engineer, Apple, Inc. on how to tune out the static in your mobile marketing buzz. More »
AT&T Announces '3G MicroCell'
AT&T is releasing an amazing new pi
ece of hardware: The 3G MicroCell. The 3G MicroCell puts a 3G access point in your home and uses your internet connection to route calls and data to the AT&T network. If you have crap service in your home like I do, you can plop down your cash for one of these miracle devices and have full service in your home instead of having to lean on a window or go outside for better service.
No word on pricing, but if it’s a flat fee, I can see many users grabbing these up. Also, at launch, they aren’t available everywhere (like Raleigh).
Even if you aren’t interested in the 3G Micro Cell, check out the official AT&T site and watch the cheesy videos. They’re good for a laugh or 2.
Griffin's FAIL Maker Shows Corporations How iPhone Apps Should Be Done
New platforms bring new opportunities for marketers. The iPhone is one of the platforms currently most talked about in marketing brainstorms around the world. Apple with its application store has made it easy for individuals and companies to develop and distribute mobile applications. Over 1 billion applications have already been downloaded on iPhones and iPod touch devices.
As with any other platform that begins to reach critical mass, companies are trying to determine what type of mobile application will help their customers or help them market and reach potential customers. Let’s look at an example of a company who has recently done this successfully.
Griffin’s FAIL Maker
griffin fail maker
At first glance many people probably thought Griffin was crazy for developing this “silly” application. These are the same people who don’t read the FAIL Blog. The FAIL Blog is a successful Internet meme that showcases funny picture with brief captions that include the word “FAIL” with the intent to make the image even funner. As one of the blogs long at the top of my must read list the FAIL blog offers a great get away with some really funny images. Being a FAIL blog fan I instantly downloaded the FAIL Maker app and had no clue it was developed by Griffin.
The application lets you ad caption to photos taken with or stored on your iPhone and then easily submit them to FAIL Blog. It is a simple app that works well and supports an existing community of users. FAIL Maker has quickly become one of the most popular iPhone applications.
Why did Griffin’s app succeed when so many other applications go unnoticed?
- It already had a community of users before it was developed (ie. FAIL blog readers)
- It was free
- It is simple to use and gives users the power over their images
- It is funny
- It encouraged people to share with each other thus promoting the application in the process
What does Griffin get for developing Fail Maker?
- In application ads that promote Griffin’s other iPhone applications (some of them paid) resulting in direct ROI from paid app downloads
- Griffin makes iPhone and ipod accessories so FAIL Maker builds its brand with potential customers
- Because of the platform users are already potential customers for Griffin products and can learn about them through in app ads
Developing on Apple’s mobile platform isn’t right for everyone, but Griffin shows that it can be successful and deliver ROI if your plan and application serves your customer community.
Evolving…
The world of communications is changing and along with it so do we. When I first got into PR, I remember sending media pitches via fax. Crazy, right? I’ve always hated faxes so I was thrilled when more and more media began welcoming e-mails. Now it’s the norm.
I live far from family so I welcomed the Facebook with open arms, but initially, I dug my heels in at the thought of an iPhone or Twitter. However, I relatively quickly succumbed to both. I’ve had my iPhone for about a month, and it does make “being connected” much easier – it’s great for time management – and I quite enjoy it. I’m SOLD!
As far as Twitter goes, more and more, I’ve been hearing news programs and other media promote their presence on the social network, so this weekend I ventured onto the site and set up my own log in. As a communicator, it’s important that I maintain my finger on the pulse of emerging industry trends – it’s my job. So, I’m now dabbling on Twitter.
I’ve also recently started a personal blog to help chronicle everyday special moments with my family – in particular my 2-year-old toddler. I could have kept a traditional journal, but opted for the more technological route because of ease, and all the chatter about blogging drove me to experience it for myself.
I’m excited to see what else is to come in the industry. I look forward to exploring and understanding evolving media both for my clients and for myself.
Connecting Offline and Online With QR Codes
For the past few months I have become mildly obsessed with QR Codes. While at SXSW Interactive I sat on a great panel explaining how QR codes are currently being used around the world.
What is a QR code?
QR stands for Quick Response. QR Codes are two dimensional bar codes that can hold information such as a phone number, URL or SMS message. Here is what they look like:
The QR code above has the URL for the home page of our agency site embed in it, so if you scan it, it should take you to MerrellGroup.com.
How do you scan a QR code?
The most popular way to use QR codes is with a mobile reader on a cell phone. Most phones on the market today have a available QR code reading software. I have an iPhone which has several QR readers, and I am currently using NeoReader.
Here is a sample of a QR code in Action from YouTube:
How Are QR Codes Being Used?
Currently QR codes are popular in Japan and parts of Europe but are quickly becoming more popular in the United States. The value in QR codes is their ability to connect offline and online environments. For example many movie posters in theaters now have QR codes that when scanned will take you to the trailer video of that movie online.
As part of the SXSW QR code panel I learned about a small town in Texas doing some really cool things with QR codes. I have found now that I know about QR codes, I am beginning to see them more and more in my daily life. The big upside to QR codes is that they are free to create and because they are black and white very cheap to include as a part of any printed material. The downside is that not all phones in the U.S. have QR codes readers and even less people know what QR codes are enough to look for them.
This post is only a primer. Stay tuned for posts looking at specific examples QR codes can or are being used in marketing.
Old School Games, Reborn.
Every now and then when playing my XBOX 360 in HD, I think back to the not-so-high-definition days of NES and the joy I found with 8-16 bits of fun and fury. I love the fact that these are classics are being reborn on the iPhone.
Are there any other 80′s babies out there that have the same craving for some Duck Hunt or Double Dragon? If so, enjoy the trip down memory lane.
