Mobile Access to Media Content – iPhone, the Catalyst

I became one of those who waited online for hours at the Apple store that day in July 2008 when the iPhone 3G first went on sale. It became an exciting and friendly set of hours with a nice mix of Boomers and youngsters, with little or no ‘in-between.’

I will never forget that I am a Windows guy, yet I will love remarkable gadgetry once I see it. I bought the first iPhone for my wife when it originally got out, and with the launch of 3G and the app keep – it turned into the time to surrender my clunky Windows Smartphone because the iPhone was a must-have. I became satisfied, which became the catalyst of cell content material ubiquity… High-speed statistics get the right of entry to a wonderful user interface, business elegance secure feature set (email, contacts), nice internet experience, and a funnel of applications advertised to parents with disposable earnings. The release becomes a sports changer for Apple (just like the iPod) and a real win for consumers.

The iPhone symbolizes that the cell has been a key media distribution channel for years within the mobile media area on both the vendor side (generation services to media corporations) and the media company side (walking the mobile commercial enterprise). This declaration might also be arguable; several colleagues will mission me here. Yet, the statistics will verify my POV as mobile revenues are growing exponentially because of its release.

Why now? Why the iPhone? Below are four reasons to chunk on…

1) Real purchasers (now not the handiest geeks) can do things quicker and greener on proper cellular devices (just like the iPhone) apart from communicating, electronic mail (for BB users,) or navigating via numerous clicks on a company’s deck. I recognize my fellow iPhone customers are nodding their heads with a smile. Yes, it’s far flat-out quicker to get your email, replace your Facebook popularity, look at the weather, Tweet, seek eBay, and so on for your iPhone instead of your computer. Whether the kudos should truly go to the providers, Cisco for delivering faster and more accurate packets over the network, or, more likely, Apple for bringing this all collectively for customers, mobile is subsequently right here. The quicker media businesses discover how to create and supply their precious content material to users outside the conventional core website, the more poised they’ll live to tell the tale in those crazy times.

2) The traditional consciousness in obtaining and preserving traffic to a middle website destination (ex., Menshealth.Com) through users sitting in front of their computers is yesterday’s interactive media increase method. This no longer means media companies must prevent all activities focused on constructing traffic to a core website; rather, it diversifies the strategic focus to distribute content where and while your goal clients need it. We alreaseensee this with the big boom of the social net (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.) – consumers are eating content in distinctive approaches and specific places. More importantly, the precious content material is consumed based on tips from ‘enablers’ – depending on buddies. New interactive media websites and types are simultaneously stealing site visitors and revenue from installed media brands in key content material verticals. This tale’s ethics is that mobile will continue to play a more critical position in what and how the content material is eaten up. More importantly, you would not want to put your cellular strategy lower on the list of concerns, as you may discover, over the years, it’ll harm your standard increase metrics.

3) The iPhone/iTunes software store (this includes different app shops… Google, Palm, Nokia, and Blackberry.) Some may also say that software and content material stores (powered by provider decks, Verizon, AT&T, etc.) have been around for years and have been successful. What is so new and remarkable about Apple’s shop? Apple has over 15,000 applications released during the last seven months (a lot of which might be desirable and beneficial), making for a unique experience from scrolling through menu displays on a traditional mobile cellphone. Whether you are playing Checkers or Connect Four with your youngsters or using your iPhone to ensure a picture body  a level before affixing to a wall- the apps work properly, are visually appealing, and are most significantly,tly usable using your normal “Joe Consumer.”

Did you ever marvel why, historically, cellular applications had been handiest marketed to young adults? Teenagers have been the only ones producing sales for carriers and media agencies from selling cell ringtones, display screensavers, etc. There needed to be compelling cell software for a media or younger technology organization to invest in before getting funded. Even cell song applications struggled to get funding. Not until the iPhone and the app kept mainstream clients (with disposable earnings) as targets for cellular programs. The iPhone app is a recreation changer for all stakeholders inside the media ecosystem, from content owners/builders to consumers. Apple has created a version that works, and others will capitalize on it properly.

Four) Business Model. Unfortunately, a few media companies will turn off their lighting over the next few years. Advertising sales will suffer, and the maximum sales supply within the interactive media enterprise. If you observe the news religiously,  there are many statements about the “downturn of advertising and marketing” and the “glut of inven, tory” spelling doomsday for the media commercial enterprise, but I do not buy it. However, I agree there can be a decent marketplace correction, and its outcomes may be far-reaching. At the same time, media agencies have renewed emphasis on exploring paid business fashions (subscription offerings, A.-cart pricing, etc.). I know this as I am concerned about a consulting undertaking with a big media corporation to do simply this. Apple’s app is all about paid content – compensating media groups for introducing and distributing their valuable IP with actual $$$ in place of future advertising.

Many loose programs are inside the iTunes app store, some of which are powered by a marketing model. However, the enterprise version I consider will be triumphant inside the current economic system for cell programs is a (low cost… $1.99, $4.99) paid one. For that motive, many media organizations compare what Apple (and others) are doing with their utility shops (and the revenue generated) to generate strategies to capitalize on the sales opportunities there. We urge media corporations to do the studies and cautiously ponder their enterprise model strategies as consumers are hurting within the wallet and are not accustomed to purchasing content. However, in the spirit of sales diversification, paid fashions are powerful. With the release of the iPhone 3G and the app Save, Apple has created a strong model for success with its essential mass.