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What more can be squeezed into the palm of your hand?.. The days of mobile devices primarily being used for calls are disappearing fast. The advancements in mobile technology over the last decade have been astounding, and in this first issue of ‘Club Wifo’ magazine, we look at how mobile technology is increasingly effecting our daily lives.
We also look at the impact of social media, and how quickly the attention of an audience can be grabbed by using these methods – a point illustrated by the battle for 2009’s Christmas number one single. There’s much more too, and as ever, we value your feedback. We’re looking for emails and articles to include in our next issue. If you have anything to share with us, please send it to us at club.wifo@wi-fo.co.uk Happy reading.
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A Whole New Ball Game – page 4 Why South Africa 2010 will be the first wireless World Cup, and how you needn’t miss a kick no matter where you are. Rage against the X-Factor - 5 How an Essex couple created the marketing campaign of the year to take the Christmas Number 1 away from Simon Cowell, and it didn’t cost a penny.
Any time, Any place, Anywhere - 6 You can connect to the internet wherever you are with Mobile Broadband, but how does it compare to a fixed line broadband solution?
Coldplay – Viva La Tecnologia - 8 How Britain’s top selling band have adopted technology to engage their fanbase, and how getting involved can help beat the rush for concert tickets!
The TRUTH about Bluetooth marketing - 12 It’s one of the most personal and captivating modern forms of advertising, but when it comes to marketing effectively, does Bluetooth deliver?
Product of the Month - 14 ViseeO Bluetooth car adapters for Mercedes Benz in the spotlight
Fighting off the iPhone - 16 As the iPhone spreads it’s wings across more UK networks, how much market share will Apples flagship device grab, and what are the alternative devices?
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Coverage of this summers World Cup in South Africa will surpass anything that has gone before. Various new platforms are available to deliver content wherever you may be, ensuring you need not miss a kick… Live Streaming of games to Pc’s and mobile devices With major free-to-air television companies around the world holding the rights to the World Cup, live internet streaming of games to PC’s and mobile devices will be available. 3G signal will be required as a minimum to carry the stream on a mobile, although for higher quality streams Wi-Fi will be a better option. iPhone users will probably need to download specific applications to view games, as iPhones are not equipped with a flash player as yet. TVU Player’ is an excellent application carrying free live TV streaming from around the world, and can be used over Wi-Fi or 3G.
Interact and converse through social media Look out for instant reaction from players through social media channels this summer. With many mainstream news channels now looking to the likes of Twitter and Facebook for stories, if you follow the official ‘tweets’ of Rooney or Ronaldo you may well be ahead of the likes of the BBC when it comes to the breaking news! Interaction and conversation between fans of various countries has been made possible by the growth in social media, so if you fancy some banter with the Aussies or the Argies, or just want an alternative view, find yourself a World Cup Facebook group to discover the thoughts and expectations from around the globe.
World Cup applications for your mobile Whether you fancy a flutter or simply want the latest scores, there will be a plethora of applications available to keep you updated. It’s not just iPhone users that can enjoy specific World Cup apps – Blackberry users can download applications from http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/ Nokia users can visit https://store.ovi.com/
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In early December 2009, upset by the inevitability of the X-Factor winner’s debut single becoming the Christmas Number 1 for the 5th successive year, Essex couple Tracy and John Morter decide to start a protest group on Facebook. Their rallying call is this… “"Fed up of Simon Cowell's latest karaoke act being Christmas No 1? Me too ... So who's up for a masspurchase of the track 'KILLING IN THE NAME' from December 13th (DON'T BUY IT YET!) as a protest to the X Factor monotony?" The rest is now UK chart history… In the music industry the most powerful marketing vehicle at the moment is undoubtedly X-Factor. Simon Cowell’s juggernaut of a programme has become an instant springboard to worldwide fame for its contestants. The format is also now responsible for resurrecting careers through guest appearances, and the return to the charts of forgotten hits that are performed by the shows protagonists. This year however, the show was indirectly responsible for one revival it could probably have done without. When Jon and Tracy Morter decided to start the ‘Rage Against the Machine for Christmas Number One’ Facebook group whilst ‘Team Cowell’ put the finishing touches to the X-Factor winners debut single, they couldn’t possibly have thought they were creating one of the showbiz news stories of the year. Regular viewers of ITV’s flagship show will be aware how the shows producers have embraced social media this season by inviting viewers to ‘Twitter’ their views and engage in online conversations with the proramme’s finalists through Facebook. X-Factor are acutely aware of the importance of interacting with their market through today’s modern techniques. What they didn’t bargain for was the backlash to their festive chart domination and the ease of which the ‘anti X Factor’ feeling could be channeled into a almost accidental national marketing campaign – a campaign that would ultimately defeat a multi million pound show running for 4 months in a primetime Saturday night terrestrial television slot. If ever the business world needed a wake up call to how marketing techniques have changed this was surely it. http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/
6th Dec. After 9 live shows, X-Factor viewers decide their 3 finalists and Stacey Solomon, Olly Murs and Joe McElderry each record a version of the winners debut single ‘The Climb’ – a cover version of a song already released by US teenage star Miley Cyrus.
13th Dec. Joe McElderry is crowned XFactor winner 2009 and ‘The Climb’ is immediately released for download. On Facebook the Morter’s group now has over 500,000 members and the race is on.
20th Dec. With over 500,000 download sales Rage against The Machines 1991 song ‘Killing In the Name’ beats ‘The Climb’ to the Christmas Number 1 by around 50,000 sales.
27th Dec. A week later than planned, Joe McElderry eventually climbs to the top of the charts to claim the final number one of the decade.
2009 was a huge year for mobile broadband. With all the major UK networks pushing hard for the biggest slice of the pie, consumers benefitted from better deals. With data allowances increasing, is mobile broadband now a realistic alternative to fixed broadband?
Remember Freeserve? Back in 1998 Freeserve became the first major the first internet service provider to offer free internet access to UK customers, accelerating widespread internet availability to UK customers. As other ISP’s were forced to follow suit, the focus of the consumer shifted from subscription costs to download limits and ultimately connection speeds. Now, as the likes of Sky, Virgin and BT are attempting to consolidate their share of the TV, broadband and fixed line telecoms markets by encouraging convergence, the internet battleground has shifted to the mobile sector. Until last year mobile broadband had been seen largely as a business tool, allowing mobile workers to gain online access wherever they are via a data card or USB dongle.
Interested in mobile broadband? Call Wifo with your questions on 0333 9002100 or email us at info@wi-fo.co.uk
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In 2009, however the major mobile networks began a substantial push towards the consumer market, enticing customers with free laptop deals and increased data allowances.
So, could you replace your current fixed broadband package with a mobile broadband package? The answer will depend on the way you use the internet and the content you are viewing. As of late 2009, ‘3’ were offering arguably the best value low cost mobile broadband package offering just £15 per month with a data allowance of 15GB. With the increased value, it could be argued that there’s no need for consumers to have a fixed broadband connection.
The major consideration is the connection speed. Whilst mobile broadband is perfectly adequate for email access and general viewing of websites, it doesn’t cope so well with video or and if reception is particularly poor, audio streams. On average speeds of between 1.5mb and 2.5mb can be expected from mobile broadband. If you regularly use Skype for video calls or YouTube then you may find the decrease in speed from fixed line to mobile broadband frustrating. This is not to say it’s not possible to use these sites and services through mobile broadband , but you will need to be in a good mobile reception area.
Mobile broadband – What do you need?
USB Dongle Simply insert your sim card into a USB dongle and then plug the dongle into your laptop to again access to the internet wherever you are. Most dongles are locked to specific networks, so be careful purchasing a dongle independently – ensure it’s compatible with your sim card.
Solwise 3.5g wifi router Inserting a usb dongle with a compatible sim card into a WiFi router instantly creates a WiFi spot, allowing you to share your connection.
Internet traffic is moving rapidly towards the use of video over written copy, and therefore as the quality of video streams improves it is becoming more important that a fast connection speed is available. If you regularly take your laptop on the road, then you could be accessing the internet on a train, in a coffee shop or in a hotel room. It’s also possible to share your connection with family, colleagues or friends with a 3g wifi router (see sidebar).
Interested in mobile broadband? Call Wifo with your questions on 0333 9002100 or email us at info@wi-fo.co.uk
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You can connect multiple devices at any one time. This particular router is ‘sim free’ allowing you to insert dongles containing a sim card for any network.
http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/shop/show/102 Of course, it’s possible you may wish to go completely wireless and do away with your landline broadband and telephone. Students, for example, may well see this as an excellent way to cut costs with the mobile companies continually increasing the value of their call bundles.
To summarise, mobile broadband now offers better value and flexibility than ever before. If you regularly access content requiring optimum download speeds via your fixed broadband it’s probably not viable to replace your current package with mobile broadband.
If you have spare minutes on your mobile each month, cutting a landline telephone and fixed line broadband could easily save over £25 a month.
If however, you are a constantly on your travels, a more casual internet user or are considering doing away with your fixed line telephone, mobile broadband is an ideal solution either in addition to, or as a replacement for your existing package
‘Coldplay fans who camped out for two nights have been snapping up tickets to the first gig by the band in their home town of Exeter since 2000. Fifty people had waited outside the HMV shop since Tuesday for the £50 tickets which went on sale at 0900 GMT. The band will perform to an audience of just 500 fans, at Exeter Castle on 19 December, to raise money for Mencap.’ -bbc.co.uk (Thursday 10th December) So, how did I get my hands on 2 tickets for this concert sat at the kitchen table for 15 minutes in my dressing gown enjoying a boiled egg? Thanks to the powerful combination of mobile telecommunications and social media marketing, here’s how I jumped the queue! I’ll start from the top… . Coldplay are my (and my wife’s) favourite band. Yes, I know it’s not ‘cool’ to like Coldplay (apparently) but we all have our vices. In summer 2008 we coincided a trip to Madrid with a concert at the Palacio de Deportes Arena. In December ’08 I managed to get my hands on some cracking tickets at the MEN, Manchester. In September ’09 we were at Wembley Stadium with 80,000 others for the 164th (and at the time, the last planned) concert of the bands incredibly successful ‘Viva La Vida’ tour.
After a long day on Wednesday, 9th December, having had about 2 hours sleep the previous night and with the ‘other half’ having the morning off I decided to reward myself with a ‘no alarm’ day on Thursday. As usual, I was the first to wake, and not wanting to disturb ‘her ladyship’ I thought I’d have a fiddle on the iPhone. First application visited of the day? Facebook. Now, not only does the wife think I have an unhealthy obsession with my iPhone, she also seems to believe I spend far too much time ‘Facebooking’.
So, combining the two whilst she remained in the land of nod seemed a good idea. As a subscriber to various groups and pages on the ridiculously popular social networking site, I stumbled across a notification from the official Coldplay Facebook Group… Coldplay Christmas show in Exeter for Mencap announced, featuring Coldplay, Lily Allen and La Roux http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u =http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fmenc apxmas&h=09e1f05a09b16a3a5ba f125acba82f9a
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CONTINUED….
‘Restyle and protect your iPhone or BlackBerry’
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…CONTINUED . ‘Sounds interesting’ I thought, and clicked the link for more details. Only 500 tickets available….150 tickets sold to Charity website subscribers….50 sold in HMV Exeter…the remaining 300 on sale through hmv.com on 10th December at 9.30am Time check – 9.01am…29 minutes to go! Now, having awakened the wife with my revelation, we agreed a course of action…”You get the breakfast on, I’ll fire up the laptop!”
Coldplay embrace technology to further engage worldwide fanbase. Coldplay are one of the biggest selling artists in the world, having sold over 9 million copies of their latest album ‘Viva La Vida’ but they are not resting on their laurels when it comes to marketing. The UK group have embraced modern technology more than perhaps any other band, choosing innovative methods to communicate with fans and promote their music. Here are a few examples of the diverse way Coldplay have adopted modern technologies… Viva La Vida single exclusively on iTunes Coldplay caused a stir when they released the debut single from their latest album exclusively on iTunes. The innovative approach not only saw the song featured heavily on iTunes ads across the world, but also led to ‘Viva La Vida’ becoming their first number one on The US Billboard 100 and their first UK number one, based on download sales alone.
To cut a half hour story short, at precisely 9.30am I refreshed the web page and entered the queue for the remaining 350 tickets at number 129, eventually landing tickets 438 and 439.
Coldplay iPhone applications In 2009 Coldplay launched their own iPhone application. The launch of the application coincided with the launch of their ‘Strawberry Swing’ single and allowed users to view the single’s video as well as play games based around the video itself. The app also featured links to the bands website, the ability to A lovely hotel next to Exeter Cathedral instantly share the app through Facebook, Twitter or email and access to was booked and we had a fantastic pre- further videos. Christmas weekend away to look Continuing their relationship with all things Apple, a Coldplay version of the forward to…. popular iPhone game ‘Tap Tap Revenge’ was also launched, featuring songs from the band and links to purchase the tracks used during the game …and I had a promise from the wife through the iTunes store. that she’d never moan at my use of my iPhone or Facebook again! Free album download With their marathon sell-out world tour in full swing, Coldplay chose to give away a live album (leftRightLeftRightLeft) as a free download from their website. The album was recorded during their world tour and free CD copies were also given away at concerts towards the end of the tour. Online Charity Auction At the end of 2009 Coldplay launched an ‘End of Decade Clearout’ auction in aid of the London based charity Kids Company. The auction was heavily promoted through Facebook, Twitter as well as the bands own website and featured memorabilia from the bands activities (including the bands instruments, tour outfits and album artwork). The items were sold through eBay and raised an incredible £250,000 in 10 days. http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/
‘Technology is constantly changing and improving. When it’s time to update your mobile package it’s an opportunity for the technology in your business to catch up – don’t waste it!’
Whether you have 1 or 100 devices, choosing the right mobile package for your business can always seem like a leap into the unknown. it’s a decision that only needs making once every couple of years, so unless you have an all yer round interest in all things mobile, it’s difficult to be sure you’re choosing the best equipment or solution available.
A personal service from experienced mobile consultant is far more beneficial when it comes to resolving issues or answering questions. At WIFO we have over 15 years of experience when it comes to establishing and maintaining the right mobile solution for an individual business. The key to this is recognising that every business is indeed individual. We start by understanding how your company operates, the roles that your staff play and their requirements
Whether it’s establishing the correct device, data allowance, talk plan, software or hands free solution for a business we start from scratch when determining what’s best for you and your business Mobile technology isn’t just about mobile phones, there are many types of devices and solutions out there that can improve the way a business operates, giving you a more streamed way of passing information between employees and clients, keeping track of your mobile work force and giving them the tools to succeed in this very competitive world. We give you the tools to stay ahead in your industry.
Technology is constantly changing and improving. When it’s time to update your mobile package it’s an opportunity for the technology in your business to catch up! We don’t start with a preconceived idea of which network is best value. We don’t determine before we liaise with a business which mobiles are most suitable. Our aim is to find a system or package that makes a business more efficient than it was able to be before.
Call us on 03339002100 or email us info@wi-fo.co.uk now for help and advice with your business mobile package
All businesses with mobile workers will rely upon modern technologies to stay in contact with their staff, often through voice calls. However, mobile technology has now moved on so far that even mobile voice calls are now seen as the 'old' way to communicate with mobile workers! Improvements in data transfer speeds together with the added functionality of PDAs and smartphones have lead to the development of many solutions designed to make supporting and managing mobile workers far easier. Take a look at these solutions to see how your business could benefit from the latest advancements. Click the links to learn more about each one‌
REAL TIME ALERTS AND REPORTS Instant information helps create a more efficient mobile workforce Ensure you're in the know when it comes to the activity of your staff. Monitor idle times, receive instant notice of speeding violations, customised alerts and reports relating to a workers activity, and update staff simultaneously and immediately. http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/email/real_time_reports_and_alerts
TRACKING BY MOBILE A flexible, cost effective alternative to vehicle tracking. Vehicle tracking can be expensive and logistically difficult to implement and maintain. It can become redundant if a vehicle is immobilised for a period (eg, repair or service). Tracking by mobile offers more functionality and is easier to implement and maintain. Mobiles stay with an individual constantly, so you'll never lose track of your staff. http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/email/tracking_by_mobile
DIGITAL PEN AND PAPER A perfect example of modern technology making work life easier! If you can use pen and paper you can use a digital pen and paper! Record information as it's bring written. Complete forms in the field, capture signatures and relay the information to its final destination in seconds. http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/email/digital_pen
LONE WORKER SUPPORT Added piece of mind for you and your field personnel. Our lone worker solutions are simple to operate. They discreetly monitor the wellbeing and safety of potentially vulnerable individuals and lone workers. The user is able to update their daily activities and geographic location using simple procedures. Workers can alert others as to when they are about to undertake high risk activities and call for assistant in a discreet manner when necessary. http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/email/lone_worker_support
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With marketing to mobile devices increasing rapidly, Bluetooth marketing offers an interesting alternative to SMS and MMS, but does it actually work?... Want to market to almost everyone in your immediate vicinity in the most personal and captivating way available?... Want to raise brand awareness and promote your special offers, or maybe even send a discount voucher in an environmentally friendly manner?... Want to advertise your products and services in a cost effective and innovative way?...
Bluetooth marketing is neither a new concept or technology, but over the past 2 years its availability and use has become more widespread. This is due to almost every mobile phone having a Bluetooth capability, and the usage of Bluetooth becoming more common as a result of car hands free kits etc.
The basic idea of Bluetooth marketing is that, with the aid of a Bluetooth marketing unit, a Is all this possible with Bluetooth business can send a small file marketing? Many Bluetooth containing a marketing message marketing companies will have you to any mobile with an active believe it is. We’ve spent the last 18 Bluetooth connection within the months working with various clients reception area of the device. to put it into practice, and we’ve Unlike SMS and MMS messages, learnt a lot about what does and sending a Bluetooth message doesn’t work along the way… costs nothing to send or receive.
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Over half of today’s mobile users leave their Bluetooth turned on, so the initial odds of attracting the attention of a potential customer are good. The chances can rapidly deteriorate however, if the sender fails to consider the impact the following can have on the Bluetooth campaign… LOCATION
MESSAGE CONTENT
LACK OF TRUST/AWARENESS
First of all it’s important to conduct a campaign in an area where people are likely to be using their mobiles. This is because different mobiles alert users to the availability of content in different ways. For instance, some mobiles will vibrate or beep when an alert is received where as others will only show the alert on the screen and won’t beep or vibrate at all.
It’s possible to send Bluetooth marketing messages in many different formats, including TXT, GIF, JPEG, 3GP, MP3 and JAVA files. This flexibility is one of the reasons why Bluetooth marketing campaigns can be extremely engaging and effective.
Once the message alert has found it’s way onto a users mobile, and the user has seen the alert, there is another obstacle to overcome. The mobile user must choose to accept the message.
Good areas to distribute Bluetooth messages include coffee shops, bus stations or other areas where people not only often choose to use their mobiles, but also remain stationary. Remaining within an area is also very important. This is because once the downloading of the Bluetooth content begins, any interruption to the download will result in the message failing to send. If a mobile user walks out of the range of the sending device, the download will fail.
Bluetooth marketing can be a success, but it’s vital that the sender takes into consideration all the above elements. Maximising the number of downloads (and the likelihood of the content being accepted) is the key element in creating a successful campaign.
Companies exploring the possibility of using Bluetooth are often blinded by the possibilities of using eyecatching formats such as 3GP video and JAVA. They fail to consider the impact this can have on message distribution, and the likelihood of actually reaching the intended recipient. Consideration needs to be given to the size of the file to be broadcast and the proximity of the target audience to the broadcasting unit. The larger the file, and the further away the user is from the unit - the longer the download time.
The most common reason for a message being refused is that the recipient doesn’t know where the message has come from and therefore is reluctant to accept. This can be overcome in several ways. Most Bluetooth marketing devices will allow the sender of the campaign to include their name in the message alert. If the recipient is in or around the establishment sending the message they are more likely to accept the message. Using point of sale to raise awareness of a campaign is another excellent method of encouraging someone to accept the message. A poster stating ‘ turn on Bluetooth to receive money off vouchers’ will undoubtedly ensure a better uptake.
It’s equally important to have realistic expectations when embarking on a Bluetooth campaign.
If you are able to conduct a Bluetooth campaign in a suitable environment, and you can afford to experiment with Bluetooth in addition to existing marketing Bluetooth advertising is still strategies, Bluetooth could prove unknown to many, and therefore is to be a cost effective way of still a talking point when a message increasing interest and awareness is received, increasing it’s of what you have to say or offer. effectiveness.
Want to know more about Bluetooth marketing, or even fancy giving it a try?... http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/wifo_marketing/list
VISEEO BLUETOOTH ADAPTERS FOR MERCEDES BENZ Mobile technology moves on fast, and this has created a dilemma for many Mercedes drivers recently… The excellent ‘Comand’ hands free system installed in Mercedes Benz cars over the last decade is a superb in car solution. Drivers are able to utilise the screen to locate contacts as well as see incoming calls and cycle through call lists. Mercedes drivers with the ‘Comand’ system can also use factory fitted controls on the steering wheel, to initiate and answer calls. The system works in tandem with a mobile phone cradle, usually located in the centre arm rest cavity. The draw back of this is that the cradles are specific to one mobile model. In other words, changing mobile means either purchasing a new cradle or forsaking the use of the superb factory fitted system altogether. Replacement cradles can be expensive and a completely new system even more so. Thanks to two innovative adapters manufactured by ViseeO, Mercedes owners can now have the option to change their mobile device as often as they need to.
The ViseeO MBU1000 adapter is designed for use in Mercedes vehicles (with a factory fitted Comand system) manufactured from around 2000 to 2005. The MBU1000 simply inserts into the existing cradle instead of the original mobile, and forms a Bluetooth connection to any Bluetooth mobile. The device effectively imitates the original mobile, enabling the driver to continue to use all the original functions of the Mercedes Comand system. The ViseeO MB-2 adapter works in an identical manner to the MBU1000, but is designed for later models manufactured from 2005 up to present day. The install is slightly different in that instead of being inserted into the existing cradle, the cradle is removed and the MB-2 (sometimes referred to as the MBU2) clips in its place. The installation of both devices is incredibly simple, requires no expert knowledge and takes just a few seconds.
Once in place, it’s a matter of allowing the ViseeO to connect with the Comand system, and then pairing the ViseeO with a mobile device by using the phones Bluetooth connection. This is a simple procedure, much like pairing with a simple headset or another mobile to exchange files. It’s possible to pair up to 3 different devices, catering for cars with more than one regular driver. Privacy of individual phonebooks is maintained and only contacts from the mobile connected are visible. Once the pairing is complete, the ViseeO automatically synchronises the mobile phones contacts with the Comand system and after a few minutes the contacts will be visible on the Mercedes’ screen. The beauty of the ViseeO solution is it’s simplicity. It’s incredibly easy to install and begin using. The ViseeO MB-2 also comes with an update cable, so as new phones become available ViseeO can release updated firmware to load onto the device. As with all Bluetooth devices there are occasional glitches in the pairing and this may require a reset of the device, but as this is such a simple procedure it’s not really a big problem. Compared to the expense of a new system and with the added knowledge that future mobiles will be compatible thanks to the update facility, in our opinion ViseeO offers excellent value.
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• Works with integrated controls on steering wheel • Uses existing integrated microphone • Mutes audio on your sound system to make and answer calls • Synchronises contacts with the Comand System (with most phones) • Microphone fine-tuning for crystal clear sound without echoes ViseeO MBU1000 For use with Mercedes cars with a factory fitted cradle, the ViseeO MBU1000 Mercedes Bluetooth Cradle Adapter allows you to connect virtually any Bluetooth mobile phone to a Mercedes Benz and talk hands free.
£199.99
For use with 2005 and pre 2005 cars with a fixed cradle designed cradle for these phones: Nokia 6210, Nokia 6150, Nokia 6310 / 6310i (Both versions 1 and 2)
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ViseeO MB-2 Designed for Mercedes models post 2005 The Visee0 MB-2 simply clips into your existing cradle. No further installation required.
£189.99
This unit works in Mercedes cars with a UHI (or MHI) connector. Where you have an existing cradle, simply unclip and remove it. Plug in the MB-2, pair your mobile phone, and you’re ready
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As o2’s iPhone exclusivity agreement comes to an end and Apple’s flagship product becomes available across other UK networks, what are other mobile manufacturers offering to maintain their market share? Meet the ‘iPhone Killers’… As other major UK networks begin to push the iPhone, Apple look set to make further inroads into the market share of mobile device manufacturers such as Nokia, Samsung and LG. It’s not just the increased availability of the iPhone that’s attacking these established players however – the march of Smartphone's into the middle ground between business and consumers is also changing the face of the UK mobile device industry.
Nokia have dominated the UK consumer mobile market since the boom of the late 90’s but that domination is now under severe threat. This is because devices from Apple, RIM (developers of Blackberry) and HTC not only act as business tools, but have features and capabilities to satisfy consumers too. As other developers move from the business end into the middle ground, Nokia are advancing towards the same ground with devices such as the N97.
Blackberry Storm 2 Operating system - BlackBerry Continuing with Blackberry’s recent move towards touch screen devices, the Storm 2 features ‘SurePress’ technology (use your finger as a cursor and feel a ‘click’ as you select an option on screen) for an improved user experience. If email is a major priority for you, then the Storm 2 excels. The large screen allows a good sized virtual keypad to type on, and coupled with ‘SurePress’ the Storm delivers a more user friendly experience in this area than the iPhone. The addition of WiFi is a major plus, allowing faster downloads and browsing for the user where WiFi is available. Application and device memory have both been doubled on the Storm 2, allowing the device to continue to run smoothly even with an added number of onboard apps.
With Smartphones set to dominate in 2010, the differences between the various operating systems will become a key factor when deciding on a device. iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows and Symbian operating systems are currently the main competitors. With many manufacturers looking towards styling and functionality associated with the iPhone, here are a few examples of how the other leading manufacturers are looking to compete with Apple.
HTC Hero Operating system – Android When it comes to going head-to-head with the iPhone, the HTC Hero has some pretty impressive advantages. The ability to run background apps and processes is an obvious advantage (put simply you can’t really do two things at once on an iPhone). The built in Flash player is another feature iPhone users have been longing for that has arrived on the HTC Hero, although the performance of the device when running the feature can leave a little to be desired. An impressive 5m pixel camera outperforms the iPhone too. In terms of specification and features, the HTC Hero is undoubtedly up there with the iPhone, if not slightly ahead.
Nokia N97 Operating system – Symbian The N97 is another device featuring a large touch screen display, but with the added feature of the slide out QWERTY keypad for serial texters and emailers. This feature in itself may make this device preferable to it’s competition for some. As you’d expect from Nokia’s high end smatphone offering, the N97 is packed with features (WiFi, FM radio, 5mp camera). The ever increasing number of ‘iPhonesque’ apps available from the Ovi store is another plus point. Whilst the N97 might not be as slick and well built as the iPhone, mobile users who are loyal to the Nokia name, and are familiar with the brands functionality will not be disappointed. http://www.wi-fo.co.uk/
FEEDBACK – ‘A powerful global conversation has begun. Through the Internet, people are discovering and inventing new ways to share relevant knowledge with blinding speed. As a direct result, markets are getting smarter—and getting smarter faster than most companies’ We value your views and feedback, because quite simply it’s the quickest way for us to get smarter, and better at what we do. If you have news, views or information regarding any of our products and services, or suggestions, we’d be very grateful if you’d share your knowledge with us. Email us…
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