7 Mobile Insights May 2009 including iPhone App and Java download statistics

The past 9 months have been interesting in more ways than Apple achieving 1 billion app downloads from the iPhone appstore:

1. Mobile ad spend in 2008 in the UK exceeded expectations and doubled vs. 2007 (http://tinyurl.com/qengsl)
2. Over 400% growth in apps downloaded 2008 vs 2007 driven by the iPhone Appstore as well as free appstores (Getjar, Mobile9, Mobango, etc), device manufacturer appstores (Blackberry App World, Nokia Ovi, Samsung Mobile Applications, etc) and mobile operators (Vodafone Appstore, O2 Limus, Orange World Appstore, etc)
3. Although iPhone apps get all the attention Golden Gekko has found that when launching apps/games across both iPhone and other platforms the number of downloads on other platforms (Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Blackberry, etc) outnumber iPhone 10 to 1 (contact us for more info).
4. With approx 2% iPhone device penetration Apple Appstore has an impressive 12% (21% including iTouch) market share in volume of mobile apps downloaded in Europe and North America (Strategy Analytics: How Apple Change the Market for Mobile Applications, http://tinyurl.com/o52cm7).
5. Although iPhone app development can cost as little as $12.000 a well-designed app can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000, take six to eight weeks to develop, and a couple more weeks more to be approved by Apple (http://tinyurl.com/qke9xb)
6. 52% of mobile users play games on their phone and about one-in-ten mobile phone users in Europe (8%) claim to have participated in mobile marketing efforts (MMA European Mobile Attitude and Usage Study, December 2008)
7. 51 percent of mobile phone users in the USA access content using their mobile phone on a weekly basis (http://tinyurl.com/p95opg)

Lynx Mobile 2.0: Lynx launches additional weapons of mass seduction following the success of Lynx FX

Considering that the Lynx mobile campaign was the most talked about and awarded mobile marketing campaign in 2008 this one went by quite unnoticed. A couple of weeks ago Unilever launched 3 new weapons of mass seduction (flirting tools) for the mobile.

Our latets favorite is Say Cheese with the following description:
Action speak louder than words. The latest clever mobile tool help you chat up girls. Simply give the girl your mobile and ask her to take a photo of you. Then when she presses the button, your cheeky message to her will appear on the screen instead. A fool proof way to break the ice.

The apps are available for over 500 devices including Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Blackberry, etc. To download the latest apps visit m.lynxeffect.com on your mobile or www.lynxeffect.com on your computer.

Good luck with the flirting!

What is the cost of developing a mobile app (iPhone, Blackberry, Java, Android, etc)?

At Golden Gekko we often get into the debate with clients and partners about what the cost of a mobile app or game should be and even more so with the iPhone SDK. We know that it is possible for a freelance developer to develop a descent looking iPhone app in a couple of weeks for a minimal budget. At the same time developing a market leading app with great design, usability, content and interaction that doesn't crash is not an easy thing. Therefore it was interesting to read what other people have to say about the cost of implementing a mobile app.
"Although iPhone app development can cost as little as $12.000 a well-designed app can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000, take six to eight weeks to develop, and a couple more weeks more to be approved by Apple"

Read more at:
http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/05/12/madison-avenue-and-the-app-store/

Now this is still the easy part. Developing an app that works across hundreds or even thousands of devices with different operating systems, screen sizes, navigation input mechanisms and capabilities is a whole different sport. When I worked Vodafone Group a couple of years ago the estimated average cost of developing a mobile game was about 200.000 euro whereof 50% for development and the other 50% porting and testing. Since then life for developer has gotten harder and not easier with more operating systems, screen sizes, touch screens, etc. At the same time budgets for app development have not increased so the only viable solution to deliver great quality apps and games is to make the development process more efficient and this is where Golden Gekko is currently developing all our R&D resources. More to follow...

Malibu Bowling game gets over 100.000 downloads first week

Get Your Island On™ with the free bowling game from Malibu® Rum. Put a Caribbean spin on an old favorite - bowling. Bowl in a rum shack. Bowl on the beach. Bowl in an underground cave or inside an aquarium. We've taken the Malibu Bottles off the bar, and made them part of the game. Now that's recycling!

The game developed for iPhone and all other phones (Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Blackberry, LG, Samsung, Motrola, Windows Mobile, etc) had over 100.000 downloads in the first week alone growing with 25.000 new downloads every day. You can find it on http://Malibu-rum.com and the mobile site on http://malibu-rum.mobi or the Java version on e.g. Mobile9 on http://gallery.mobile9.com/f/748520/ and iPhone version on http://tinyurl.com/djwq7q

When you bowl with Malibu® Rum the lanes are always smooth, and the tails are always tasty! Enjoy!

Golden Gekko Launches Mobile App for BBC Ashes to Ashes

Golden Gekko Develops Mobile app for BBC Ashes to Ashes. Check it out on http://www.bbc.co.uk/ashestoashes/mobile/

More to follow...

Mobile app to promote Jack Daniels Backstage events

With the collaboration of Jack Daniels and Universal McCann you can enjoy the privileges of a true Rock Star and find your way to the exclusive Jack Daniel’s “Backstage” parties.

Find out how much of a Rock Star you are, by taking the simple JD’s quiz. You can also jam with your friends using the “Haz tu música” section that allows you to compose your own tunes using the guitar, drums and piano.

Gather your friends and each of you can choose a different instrument and form your own mobile music band! In the “Backstage” section, after selecting a town closest to you, you will know the dates and places of the exclusive Jack Daniel’s “Backstage” parties.

The application was developed by Golden Gekko and is currently only available in Spanish. It can be found on http://jd.golgek.mobi as well as various appstores including Mobile9: http://p.mobile9.com/goldengekko/gallery/

The application is available for the top 250 Java devices in Spain as well as the iPhone in the next week or so.

Let’s Rock!

Golden Gekko Finalist of Red Herring 100 Europe

Red Herring last week announced that Golden Gekko was named a Finalist of Red Herring 100 Europe, an award given to the top 100 private technology companies based in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) region each year.

Red Herring’s lists of top private companies are an important part of the publication’s tradition of identifying new and innovative technology companies and entrepreneurs. Companies like Google, eBay, and Skype were spotted in their early days by Red Herring editors, and touted as leaders that would change the way we live and work.

Red Herring’s editorial staff rigorously evaluated several hundred private companies through a careful analysis of financial data and subjective criteria, including quality of management, execution of strategy, and dedication to research and development.

Red Herring will honor the Red Herring 100 Europe Finalist companies at its Red Herring Europe 2009 Conference. Scheduled for March 31- April 2, at the Berlin Radisson Hotel. This intimate, 2 1/2 day event will explore how European firms are leading the charge in many technology sectors, gaining a competitive advantage, and driving entrepreneurial success in ways that create business opportunities for challengers and incumbents alike.

We are very happy and honored over this recognition!

Universal Pictures launches another iPhone app to promote The Boat that Rocked

Today Universal Pictures launched yet another iPhone application developed by Golden Gekko on behalf of Hyper to promote the movie 'The Boat that Rocked'.

Play the official 'The Boat that Rocked" Top Trumps(tm) game with your iPhone or iPod Touch. Based on the original Top Trumps card game, players must choose a character statistic from their dealt card to then be compared against their opponent's card. The player with the highest statistics wins. Two player mode available without the need for a second iPhone or iPod Touch. One player game available against the computer.

Also included is the official movie trailer and photo images from the film.

You can find the application here or http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=307166412&mt=8

Enjoy!

Golden Gekko in Mobiadnews for the Unborn campaign

The unborn iphone application strikes again. Mobiadnews has a great article and review about the Unborn iphone app campaign. See http://www.mobiadnews.com/?p=3356 ...

The Unborn iPhone app nr 8 on iTunes

The Unborn iphone application is now number 8 on iTunes and climbing!

Here are some of the reviews:

5 stars
"Ok you're not likely to keep this on your phone forever but this is a really cool example of how to promote a film. Interesting clips and the call is creepy! Well done!" - Spook73

5 stars
"Great free app! Took a bit of time to find the hidden gems but once I did it was lots of fun and one feature was very spooky. Beats most of the paid for apps. The movie seems fantastic as well. Definitely want to watch the movie straight away!" - Andrew Saggers


4 stars
"I think more films should do this they could have a catorgory 4 it" - Pompey Boo

4 stars
"But cool. I like the call at the end. Only problem, I had an iPod." - The1wholuvsVicky

More to follow...

Universal Pictures promotes the movie "The Unborn" on the iPhone

There is a huge opportunity to entertain the audience where there is no other media format available, and fill the downtime with rich interactive experiences.

With this in mind, Hyperhappen have just launched the first ‘mobile interactive movie trailer’ for Universal Pictures developed by Golden Gekko. Over ground, Underground, in the middle of the Atlantic... the content is in the handset to play with. The navigation toolbar is truly virtual and a first step towards mobile’s ability to build on intuitive engagement.

OK. It does require an iPhone or iPod Touch...

The movie industry has a great heritage of using outdoor to promote new movies. The design methodology that goes into creating a billboard poster is built on how the consumer should read the imagery to ‘buy in’ to the film bring promoted. The Unborn app has built on this heritage, therefore tying into the consumer’s familiarity with this ATL imagery to act as the launch pad for their user journey.

You can find the app on http://tinyurl.com/ape524 or click here

Enjoy!

Golden Gekko at Mobile World Congress - Lynx FX and Cippi again!

More news stories about the most downloaded fart sound application in the world: Cippi the Farting Chipmunk and the fantastic mobile flirting tools: Weapons of mass seduction by Lynx.

Check out articles on:

http://www.gomonews.com/the-lynx-effect-on-mobile-at-mwc/

http://www.gomonews.com/vigorsol-showcases-how-mobile-apps-integrate-with-tv-ads/

Thanks to Peter Sells at BBH for a great presentation!

Monday: Nordic Wireless Networking in Barcelona 16/2 at Hotel OMM 21-24

As there is no big opening party this year here’s a chance to make something useful and fun out of the evening. Come for network, free drinks and a bite to eat at Hotel Omm from 21.00.

We can talk about how to create the next Nokia, Ericsson, Microsoft and Google in the Nordic, the latest and greatest trends or simply how Nordic companies can help each other be more successful Nordic Wireless invites to mingling @ MWC Monday 16/2 between 21.00-24.00 @ HOTEL OMM

MEET US IN THE BAR DOWNSTAIRS!

P.S. Be there on time for free drinks!

The event is sponsored by Golden Gekko, Wireless Solution, Nordic Wireless, Sweden Mobile Association, TelecomCity, Kista Science City, Wireless Future, Technopolis, Öresund IT & Mobile Heights.

Friday: Mobile World Congress in Barcelona 2009 - Next big thing?

Next week the biggest telecom event of the year takes over Barcelona. We will be at the fair as usual networking and checking out what others are doing. If you haven't already then please contact us for a meeting.

This year we will look out for

• anything app-store related from Nokia, Microsoft, Samsung, etc (big question is how they will succeed where e.g. Handango has previously failed)
• to what extent mobile content and services companies can continue to push advertisement based business model in the current climate
• what Sun has to say about the future of mobile Java (they have some kind of an announcement)
• mobile e-mail - can someone really offer a consumer e-mail service that is close to the experience of the Blackberry but without needing a special handset and mobile operator subscription. Momail is one very interesting company in this space!
  
• location based communities - Google just launched Altitude and there are about 50 other companies out there with similar services but is there anything truly disruptive? We are obviously biased as close partners to GeoMe but we think that GeoMe could be the answer!
  

See you at the fair!

Thursday: Golden Gekko launches DIY mobile applications service

Golden Gekko has just launched the alpha version of the Mobile Applications Wizard that allows anyone to create their own mobile brochure applications to respond to the growing appetite for useful and entertaining mobile applications on application stores across the globe. These iPhone-like apps, which can run on any kind of phone, are ideal for extending the reach of businesses of all sizes. The service enables the rapid, easy and cost efficient implementation of mobile applications across more than 2,000 different mobile devices including Symbian, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Linux Mobile, Android and essentially all Java enabled handsets.

Golden Gekko is now able to offer our clients the Mobile Applications Wizard, giving you the opportunity to create your own mobile applications, at minimal cost. The Wizard is used primarily to create impactful mobile brochures, which are similar in functionality to a PDF optimised for the mobile phone. Golden Gekko believes the service will be of particular interest to the SME market, owing to the relatively low costs involved. The service is easy to use and enables companies of all sizes to benefit from mobile marketing.

“We know that mobile brochures are a superior way of engaging with consumers, bringing brands to life and providing value-added services to customers that will meet their needs whilst providing entertainment,” says CEO Magnus Jern. “For time-pressured SMEs the ability to provide their customers with mobile content is a powerful differentiator in a crowded and competitive market.”

Our clients testing out the service have already generated over 1 million downloads of the brochures proving that it will become an instant success!

For more information contact our sales team for a demonstration.

Thursday: Mobile revolutionises cooking

One of the most popular mobile products developed by Golden Gekko is the mobile cookbook first launched with Arla Foods in Sweden September 2007 and several other brands and markets since. A cookbook is absolutely perfect for the mobile phone as it is always when there when you need it in the foodstore, market, kitchen or when discussing food with friends.

The New York Times has a great article demonstrating just how the mobile is penetrating the kitchen with case studies from Kraft Foods (the iFood assistant), Grocery iQ, Jott, Eggy, etc.

Read more here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/dining/21tele.html?_r=2&ref=technology

Friday: Mobile visits Hamburg

This Friday Golden Gekko attended a conference in Hamburg with them theme "Opening New Markets For Innovative Services And Technologies" organised by Living Labs Global and the City of Barcelona. The purpose was to market Barcelona as great city for businesses in Media & ICT, Helthcare and Design. A quick summary of the conference is

• Sascha Haselmeyer, Managing Director of Living Labs Global made a great presentation about the underutilised opportunities in the mobile space across the world that can be summarised in the statement "the mobile services revolution has not even begun."
• Judith Romera, Manager of International Economic Relations, Economic Promotion Barcelona talked about all the amazing opportunities for businesses and people based in Barcelona. She reminded me of why we established Golden Gekko there in the first place.
• Jordi Sacristan, Marketing & Communication Director, 22@Barcelona gave a brief overview of the business area 22@Barcelona and the opportunities for startups as well as established companies to benefit from

In addition to this there was a great panel where angel investors, interim managers, entrepreneurs and city representatives came together to talk about starting up businesses.

As usual the best was saved for last, lunch... and networking networking. I had the chance to speak to a previously unknown competitor to our new mobile data collection tool, a film festival director, a food media company (a Taste of Media), a french-german social network builder, an angel investor, a mobile event ticket company (Matrix Solutions), a medical design company, a mobile car-pooling company (iCarYou), Öresund IT, a newly started mobile marketing agency (Weisher Mobile) and many many more.

Thanks a lot to the organisers! We look forward to the next event!

Friday: Mobile Applications - The Next Big Thing In Mobile Marketing?

Jim Cook at Mobiadnews interviewed Golden Gekko CEO Magnus Jern earlier this week about the mobile application trend. Here's the full article or http://www.mobiadnews.com/?p=3172

Other than giving a great overall overview of mobile applications in marketing the article also highlights the Lynx campaign as a great mobile application making it even more famous!

Brands Love Mobile Apps

Moconews has a great article about how "Brands Love Mobile Apps" but also how there is a risk that the application stores get cluttered with so many apps that it becomes a problem.

http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-Mobile-Applications-A-Hit-With-Brands

This article highlights two trends:
1. The major consumer brands already investing in mobile are now all interested in launching mobile applications, particularly on the iPhone app-stores but also in other places
2. There are already over 10.000 iPhone applications on iTunes and 30.000 applications on Getjar and it is getting more and more difficult to stand out and make your app a hit. Even driving viral video views on Youtube is easier because there are more tools to cross-promote and of course the audience is so much larger.



Over 90% of these applications are however badly designed, full of bugs, not working across most devices and not very relevant or useful which means that there is no abundance of great applications that stand out. Download 10 random applications from the iPhone app-store or Getjar and I can assure you that you will experience this yourself.

The implication is fairly simple. There is an enormous demand for great applications so deliver great applications and you will generate attention, downloads, active users and hopefully meet your objectives!

More about how you deliver great mobile applications tomorrow!

3333 Mobile Devices

Less than one year after setting up a new phone database for the mobile websites and applications delivered by Golden Gekko on behalf of clients and partners the database has reached the magical number of 3333 unique phone models (e.g. Nokia N95, Nokia N96, Blackberry 8310, Sony-Ericsson W810 and so on).


Is this a milestone? Not really but it does show the complexity of delivering mobile applications and sites compared to the web. These 3333 phones each have a unique specification including user agent, screen resolution, application size (jar size), Java JSR support, Java exceptions, browser type, image support and lots of other variables that have to be checked when a site or application is rendered on the device.

How many unique mobile internet enabled phones are there then? Across the globe people estimate at least 5000 (and growing) different phone models with mobile internet browser so we are still some way off to covering all of them. With the current growth in services using our platform we expect to be considerably closer by the end of 2009 but who knows how many it will be by then…