FierceDeveloper

February 3, 2009

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This week's sponsors:
AT&T
T-Mobile
Clickatell

Editor’s corner:
New boutique App Store changes the rules of the game

Today's Top Stories:
1. What's new and what's missing in iPhone OS 2.2.1 SDK
2. Motorola not dumping Windows Mobile
3. Android Market policies questioned after problems with app
4. Nokia names Calling All Innovators finalists
5. App Store demo rules, tax questions clarified

Spotlight:
Andrew Seybold: Developers - Consider usability when making apps

Also Noted:
Dell may launch smartphone; T-Mobile USA: We will have more G series phones in 2009 Much more...

Developer Workshop:
InfoMedia, Inc. on how to launch a successful iPhone app



This week's sponsor is AT&T.

Pitch your consumer or enterprise application to AT&T at CTIA Wireless 2009 and you could win a cash prize and inclusion in an AT&T distribution channel. Submit your app today!


Editor's Corner

New boutique App Store changes the rules of the game

By Jason Ankeny Comment | Forward

In its current incarnation, Apple's App Store is a bit like your local Wal-Mart, offering bargain-priced consumer goods from a variety of manufacturers. But reports suggest Apple is mulling the addition of a premium App Store gaming boutique more along the lines of a luxury retailer like Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus: According to PocketGamer.biz, the new upscale App Store would offer a range of titles for the iPhone 3G and iPod touch priced at $19.99 each--sales would be limited to select large publishers with pockets deep enough to fund the extended developmental cycles necessary to create more sophisticated and expensive games. Of course, that would effectively shut out the myriad small developers responsible for the majority of existing iPhone applications, which is not exactly the hoped-for response to lingering questions about the impact of free and cheap apps on App Store placement and discoverability.

The debate over how the digital storefront showcases iPhone apps reached a crescendo late last year when Craig Hockenberry, principal and engineer with The Iconfactory (the software firm behind top-selling App Store downloads Frenzic and Twitterific) posted a much-discussed blog entry contending the growing proliferation of bargain-priced App Store products is inhibiting development. In an open letter to Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted on his blog furbo.org, Hockenberry wrote "As an iPhone developer who's been in the App Store since its launch, I'm starting to see a trend that concerns me: developers are lowering prices to the lowest possible level in order to get favorable placement in iTunes. This proliferation of 99¢ ringtone apps is affecting our product development... We have a lot of great ideas for iPhone applications. Unfortunately, we're not working on the cooler (and more complex) ideas. Instead, we're working on 99¢ titles that have a limited lifespan and broad appeal. Market conditions make ringtone apps most appealing."

Not long after, Apple quietly instituted a series of changes improving how applications are featured in the App Store--first and foremost, the storefront now spotlights the most popular applications on each category page, at the same time separating the most popular free applications (which previously dominated download rankings) from the most popular premium apps. In addition, the layout of the App Store in iTunes is now more closely aligned with the design of the App Store application on the iPhone. But the new velvet-rope App Store is a step in the wrong direction--in its current incarnation, the storefront is a true open marketplace that offers a level playing field to all developers, regardless of their shape and size. A boutique App Store open exclusively to those developers big and rich enough to meet Apple's criteria for inclusion isn't playing fair. -Jason

P.S. This week, FierceDeveloper introduces a new recurring feature--Developer Workshop. A series of profiles exploring the current state of the mobile marketplace from the point of view of the software developers mapping out its future, Developer Workshop will focus on developers with a compelling story to tell, and offer their perspective on what the industry's doing right, what it's doing wrong and how to make it better. The first Developer Workshop features InfoMedia, the firm behind the wildly successful iFart Mobile application. Be sure to check it out here, and if you would like to nominate your firm to bask in the Developer Workshop spotlight, send me an email.

Read more about: Mobile Gaming, iPhone, Apple, App Store

Webinars

> Searching for a Solution to Mobile Entertainment Discovery - Tuesday, Feb 10th, 2pm ET / 11 am PT

Events

> GSMA Mobile World Congress - Feb 16-19 - Barcelona, Spain
> AT&T Fast-Pitch Platinum Awards Contest Las Vegas, NV (at CTIA Wireless 2009) - April 1 - 3, 2009

Marketplace

> Spotlight your Mobile Content at Nokia MOSH
> Adobe White Paper: Designing Engaging Mobile Experiences
> The Service Provider’s Guide to 3-Dimensional Content Security
> Whitepaper: Network Resource Analytics and Intelligence (NRAI) solution

Jobs

> Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs
> Vice President of Wireless Engineering - Cox Communications
> Vice President - Wireless Retail Merchandising and Store Operations - Cox Communications
> Manager of Voice Product Development - Cox Business - Cox Communications



Customers asked for it and you got it! Connect your apps to those customers through T-Mobile's devPartner Program now.

Today's Top Stories

1. What's new and what's missing in iPhone OS 2.2.1 SDK

By Jason Ankeny Comment | Forward

About two months after releasing its iPhone OS 2.2. update, Apple quietly issued the iPhone OS 2.2.1 SDK. As the extra decimal place suggests, 2.2.1 is by no means a radical overhaul, but a relatively simple bug update sans significant API changes, designed for developers building for devices upgraded to the new iPhone OS 2.2.1 firmware revamp. Labeled Build 9M2621, the complete package contains the iPhone SDK and Xcode 3.1.2 Developer Tools for iPhone OS 2.2.1--according to Apple, the new SDK adds support for targeting non-Mac OS X platforms; GCC 4.2 & LLVM GCC 4.2 optional compilers for use with Mac OS X 10.5 SDK; updated assistants to create new projects, targets and source ï¬les; integrated SCM support interoperable with Subversion 1.5; and a simplified toolbar. Download the iPhone OS 2.2.1 SDK here. http://developer.apple.com/

Still MIA from the iPhone OS: The unified push notification service Apple promised all the way back in June 2008 at its Worldwide Developer Conference. The push service--which alerts iPhone users running one application when fresh data is available for another application not in use--became necessary when Apple declined to include background applications in the iPhone SDK; many developers cited their concerns about such a limitation, arguing it could restrict the usefulness of applications like instant messaging. Speaking at WWDC, Apple senior vice president of iPhone software Scott Forstall told developers that work on the push service would be completed by September--the computing giant has not offered an explanation for the continued delay.

For more on the iPhone SDK update:
- read this Softpedia article

Read more about: iPhone, Apple


2. Motorola not dumping Windows Mobile

By Jason Ankeny Comment | Forward

With Motorola expected to report grim fourth quarter results Tuesday, the rumor mill is abuzz with speculation on its mobile device plans--in mid-January, the firm announced it would eliminate 4,000 jobs, and after those cuts included a team of 70 employees focusing on the Windows Mobile platform, some onlookers have suggested Motorola is poised to permanently shelve its WinMo efforts. While Motorola confirmed the Windows Mobile-related layoffs to The Wall Street Journal, a spokesman said the job cuts do not signify a shift in company strategy away from the Microsoft mobile OS: "We continue to support Windows Mobile and will have devices out this year," the spokesman said. "Today, our plans remain the same: Rebuilding and repositioning the Mobile Devices business remain a top priority."

Following the October announcement of Motorola's third-quarter results, CEO Sanjay Jha said the beleaguered handset maker would delay a proposed spinoff of its mobile devices unit as it spends 2009 trying to develop smartphones that resonate with consumers--at that time, Jha said both Windows Mobile and Google's fledgling Android mobile operating system were central to the firm's long-range plans, with Motorola hoping to introduce its first Android handset in time for this year's holiday shopping season.

For more on Motorola's Windows Mobile outlook:
- read this Wall Street Journal article

Related articles:
Can Windows Mobile 6.5 reinvent the user experience?
Microsoft wants Windows Mobile on fewer devices

Read more about: Windows mobile, Motorola, android


3. Android Market policies questioned after problems with app

By Jason Ankeny Comment | Forward

An Android application that allegedly wipes out data on users' G1 devices is under fire from consumers and raising questions about Google's open-door Android Market policies. eMobiStudio's MemoryUp application, introduced earlier this month, promises to improve memory management for devices running on the Android mobile OS, translating to a smoother user experience and increased battery life--instead, some G1 users on the online Android Community forum have complained the app removes contacts and calendar items, and corrupts the device's memory. "Doesn't work at all erased my phone numbers and froze my phone," one user writes. eMobiStudio denies the charges: "We are very disturbed by these reports," chief technical associate Robert Lee tells Wired. "Whatever damage is out there has not been done by our product."

MemoryUp has now been pulled from Android Market, although it's presently unclear whether Google or eMobiStudio is responsible for the move. The allegations against MemoryUp have nevertheless prompted new questions about Google's open policy toward its Android Market virtual application storefront--the web services giant touts the store as an "unobstructed environment" for developers to distribute their software, contending such an approach fosters innovation. By contrast, rival Apple carefully vets all applications available via the App Store, and frequently rejects apps that don't meet its strict criteria.

"As consumers, we all make judgments about what stores we visit and what we buy based on quality, brand, safety and cost," Yankee Group director of consumer research Carl Howe tells Wired. "Problems like these are going to drive away mainstream users... [The open market policy] was one of the real differentiators for the Android Market. But that is also going to mean there is no standard for the apps to be held to. Certainly incidents like these makes it much harder for [Android] to succeed."

For more on the Android Market controversy:
- read this Wired article

Related articles:
Google vows to clean up Android Market
Google confirms premium Android apps coming in Q1
Google to share Android Market revenues with operators

Read more about: Google, Android Market, Android


4. Nokia names Calling All Innovators finalists

By Jason Ankeny Comment | Forward

Nokia announced the finalists in its Calling All Innovators competition. Launched in September 2008, the contest called on developers to submit mobile applications with the potential to enhance and improve society.  In all, Nokia named 11 finalists in three categories:

ECO-Challenge--Applications designed to minimize mobile technology's global environmental impact and enable consumers to more easily reduce their energy consumption or carbon footprint. The finalists are GreenDrive (EMEA), which promotes vehicular fuel efficiency by sensing current and impending road conditions that influence fuel consumption and offers real-time directions for the shortest driving route in the quickest time legally allowable; Ticketek Mobile Ticketing (Americas), which trims paper consumption by enabling consumers to use a barcode stored on their phone to gain admission to events; Green Phone (APAC) , which maximizes battery life via more efficient regulation of device backlight, WLAN, Bluetooth and charger power consumption; and TigerMap (China), which combines real-time mass transit information with recommendations on restaurants, entertainment, hotels and shopping in more than 150 Chinese cities.

Emerging Markets--Applications designed to improve daily life in developing nations--e.g., mobile solutions targeting education, health data access, infotainment or rural agriculture. The finalists are mPedigree (EMEA), which allows users to text a quality-authentication code on medication packaging to a provisioned mobile shortcode to guard against counterfeit drugs; DigitallCS (Americas), which enables farming co-ops to inspect member growing practices and upload data to a website in order to verify adherence to agricultural standards; and Nano Ganesh (APAC), which allows Indian to remotely contact with distant, modem-equipped electric irrigation pumps and monitor power supply and pump operation.  

Technology Showcase--Applications designed to maximize the potential of any technology optimized for Nokia's Series 40 or S60 devices, including Flash Lite, Java, Python or open source. The finalists are PhotoMap (EMEA), which digitizes and stores photographs of fixed public maps taken with a camera phone for access, browsing and geo-referencing via mobile device; kReader Mobile (Americas), a text-to-speech app with cross-language translation capabilities that digitizes any book, letter, receipt or other printed document and translates the captured text into audio that is "read" back to the user; Neuscreen (APAC), which exploits the Nokia N95's drawing, touchscreen and camera functionalities to track the motion of a pen light and enable "virtual" drawing; and X Dancery (China), which analyzes any MP3 file to automatically generate a unique tempo-based game for each selected song.

According to Nokia, close to 1,000 developers entered the Calling All Innovators competition--the winners, to be named Feb. 17 during the Mobile World Congress 2009 event in Barcelona, will share $150,000 in cash and prizes as well as distribution opportunities.

For more on the Calling All Innovators finalists:
- read this release
- see this slideshow of application screenshots

Read more about: Nokia


5. App Store demo rules, tax questions clarified

By Jason Ankeny Comment | Forward

While Apple's App Store virtual storefront is stuffed with so-called "lite" applications--i.e., demonstration applications enabling iPhone and iPod touch users the opportunity to sample an app prior to purchase--the computing giant's official policy has maintained that all demonstration versions must act as fully functional stand-alone entities, not simply as a featured-limited tool design to up-sell the official premium version. According to Ars Technica, the somewhat murky definitions are now significantly clearer based on the case of Expando Free, a puzzle game that seemed to exist for the sole purpose of promoting the title's premium incarnation, in effect violating the spirit of the App Store's rules and regulations--Apple has now said it will not accept feature-limited versions of App Store submissions, mandating that iPhone applications cannot reference features not implemented or up-sell to the full premium version. In addition, developers must remove any reference to demo or beta from the application binary and all supporting materials, or "metadata" in App Store parlance. "Free" or "Lite" versions remain acceptable, although each must still be fully functional and stand independently of the premium app.

In other App Store goings-on, Ars Technica notes Apple will not report App Store payments to the Internal Revenue Service, and will not send developers a 1099 form for the 2008 tax year. According to Apple's iTunes Royalty legalese, App Store payments are considered sales commissions, not royalties, meaning developers are therefore responsible for reporting their own earnings based on App Store revenues. Some developers may have assumed otherwise, given that they were instructed to fill out tax forms and submit their social security numbers as part of the App Store contract.

For more on the App Store demo restrictions:
- read this Ars Technica article

Related articles:
The App Store after the gold rush
App Store frustrations bedevil developers
Is App Store pricing hindering app development?

Read more about: iPhone, Apple, App Store


Also Noted

This week's sponsor is Clickatell.

 

Clickatell's messaging gateway allows you to send messages to almost any mobile phone in the world. Its high powered platform ensures reliable delivery of all messages, and our global coverage means that you can reach 712 mobile networks in almost 212 countries. Sign up now to test our gateway!  

 


TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT... Andrew Seybold: Developers - Consider usability when making apps

Andrew Seybold gives some advice to developers over at FierceMobileContent: A lot of new applications for smartphones are arriving on the scene and all of the app stores are full of applications running the gamut from generics to those that serve very specific needs. I don't know how many software developers have discovered the wireless world but the number is certainly growing by the day. There are a lot of great new applications and some that are pretty boring, and they are built around a wide variety of user interfaces. Click here to read more...

> Dell may launch smartphone.

> T-Mobile USA: We will have more G series phones in 2009.

> AdMob extends mobile ad reach to Android.

And finally...
Playmobil founder Hans Beck dies at 79.


InfoMedia, Inc. on how to launch a successful iPhone app

By Jason Ankeny Comment | Forward

Developer Workshop is a series of profiles exploring the current state of the mobile marketplace from the point of view of the software developers mapping out its future. Each profile will focus on a developer with a compelling story to tell, and offer their perspective on what the industry's doing right, what it's doing wrong and how to make it better. The profiles will also explore the developer's creative philosophy--why they chose to write for mobile devices, how they hope their applications will impact the lives of consumers and their advice for aspiring developers.

This week FierceDeveloper profiles InfoMedia, a mobile application developer responsible for some very successful and innovative iPhone apps.

InfoMedia emerged as one of the biggest App Store success stories to date when its iFart Mobile novelty application rocketed to the top of the iPhone sales charts just 10 days after its Dec. 12 commercial debut.

Online you will find more of our company profile on InfoMedia, Inc, as well as a Q+A with CEO Joel Comm on his success with the iTunes App store and video demos of the company's apps!

Click here to read more about InfoMedia, Inc in our Developer Workshop online...

Read more about: Joel Comm, iPhone, InfoMedia, Developer Workshop

Webinars

> Searching for a Solution to Mobile Entertainment Discovery - Tuesday, Feb 10th, 2pm ET / 11 am PT

Mobile content search and discovery challenges have long confounded consumers and hindered operator revenues. Learn how the emergence of improved data, devices and user interfaces as well as a new wave of discovery, recommendation and sharing tools are rapidly transforming how mobile subscribers experience and purchase music, movies, games and more on the go.  Register Now!

Events

> GSMA Mobile World Congress - Feb 16-19 - Barcelona, Spain

The GSMA Mobile World Congress is a globally recognised exhibition and conference for the mobile industry, offering unlimited opportunities to network with an influential circle of mobile professionals. Visit www.mobileworldcongress.com or call +44(0)20-8879-2422.”

> AT&T Fast-Pitch Platinum Awards Contest Las Vegas, NV (at CTIA Wireless 2009) - April 1 - 3, 2009

Don't miss your chance to pitch your cutting-edge mobile app, service, or content to AT&T for a share in $70,000 of prize money and inclusion in an AT&T distribution channel! AT&T will be hosting Fast-Pitch for consumer and enterprise developers at CTIA Wireless at the Las Vegas Convention Center, April 1-3, 2009. Submit your mobile app today!

Marketplace

> Spotlight your Mobile Content at Nokia MOSH

Nokia MOSH connects content creators with a global community of consumers looking for great stuff for their phones. Now you can elevate your content through sponsored 'Spotlight' placement. Increase your downloads and get noticed. Visit MOSH. Learn more about Spotlight.

> Adobe White Paper: Designing Engaging Mobile Experiences

Today's phones try to be smaller versions of their desktop brethren. They assume users do the same things on their phones that they do at their desks; that the same interfaces are appropriate. Mobile experiences should not only be smaller, they must recognize the context and manner of mobile interactions and offer experiences that are appropriate for mobile. Read more.

> The Service Provider’s Guide to 3-Dimensional Content Security

In the race for "anywhere, anytime" content, pay-TV operators must master the transparent delivery of content to multiple screens across different networks, while supporting all types of protection. Download the whitepaper to understand the content security requirements from a network perspective, device perspective and content owner perspective.

> Whitepaper: Network Resource Analytics and Intelligence (NRAI) solution

This Yankee Group Report examines the critical components that constitute a Network Resource Analytics and Intelligence (NRAI) solution, how NRAI drives the convergence between IT and business users so CSPs can adopt a just-in-time (JIT) approach to network resource planning, and how network usage analytics can enable accurate decision-making across finance, marketing and network operations.

Jobs

> Need a job? Need to hire? Visit FierceWirelessJobs

Announcing FierceWirelessJobs, the new FierceMarkets careers site. Find the perfect job or post your openings at http://www.fiercewireless.com/jobs.

> Vice President of Wireless Engineering - Cox Communications

This role is responsible and accountable for establishing the overall technology direction, managing and coordinating the launch and deployment of Cox’s wireless network and services. This involves oversight, managing and directing the various technical teams including technology partners, coordinating the development of equipment testing and network deployment plans, service deployment, integration testing and implementing operational process improvements. Click here to learn more.

> Vice President - Wireless Retail Merchandising and Store Operations - Cox Communications

This role is accountable for managing the national deployment of Cox’s re-branded retail channel, developing future retail expansion strategies, and managing the on-going merchandising and retail operations. As a corporate officer, this individual is accountable for the attainment of margin and sales contribution through the retail channel in Cox owned stores. Click here to learn more.

> Manager of Voice Product Development - Cox Business - Cox Communications

The Manager, Voice Product Development will be a Subject Matter Expert maintaining product knowledge of business VOIP services, infrastructure, and product platform activities for the benefit of Cox Business, and be able to translate that knowledge into implications for the business support processes, overall business plan and product development.  Learn more.


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