Bigmouthmedia search engine news: mobile-web

The new world of online maps - bringing Google back down to Earth

Wed, 14 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

It's been three years since Google hit us with Google Maps and Google Earth - its virtual mapping software that lets users almost literally manipulate the world in their living rooms. Since then, we've seen a range of features and innovations added by the Google mapping team - from updated satellite images and mobile maps to specialist, user-created layers and the innovative Google Street View tool.

But the days where Google Maps and Google Earth ruled the online world could soon be over, as a new breed of online maps battles for space in the search sphere.

The biggest news of the week has been the launch of Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope - a research project that's been years in the making, whose profile was undeniably raised by the news that it made pioneering blogger and former Microsoft employee Robert Scoble cry.

At first glance, WorldWide Telescope seems to be Microsoft's answer to Google Sky - a feature announced in August 2007, that lets Google Earth users expand their usual viewing experience and explore the heavens from Earth. However, delve a little deeper and Microsoft's project is much more. Using images from several NASA telescopes - including the Hubble Space Telescope, Mars Rovers and the Chandra X-ray Observatory - WWT lets users experience the cosmos in normal, infrared and non-visible light.

Access to "terabytes" of data means amateur astronomers can discover new planets and moons at the touch of a button, and embark on ready-made tours of the stars. One tour called 'Dust and Us', for example, is conducted by Alyssa Goodman, a Harvard astronomy professor, and explores the dark regions in galaxies, where celestial bodies are formed.

To date, Virtual Earth - Microsoft's answer to Google Earth - hasn't gained too much attention. In fact, its popularity pales in comparison to that of Google Earth

However, the launch of WWT (still in beta), could change all that - especially in a search climate where the tide seems to be turning towards what's perceived to be Google's cavalier attitude towards privacy. Google Street View, for instance, has attracted several complaints from users in the USA, Canada and Australia over its unauthorised use of people's images - though reports have emerged that the search engine has now begun blurring faces in the programme.

In addition to Microsoft's valiant effort to claw back some of the online maps market from Google, several mobile mapping companies have started to launch their own onslaughts on the mobile world - one of the few markets where Yahoo!'s services still show Google any real competition.

Yesterday, MobileCrunch revealed that Schmap - a popular publisher of free online travel guides - has opened up access to their guides on the iPhone and iPod Touch. And with guides to major cities in the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the new tool could be a real factor in driving away iPhone traffic from Google.

Mobile manufacturers Nokia aren't backing down lightly either - at the Where 2.0 conference in California yesterday, Nokia officials unveiled an early version of Maps on Ovi, the company's still fledgling social media site. A recent blog post from Wired writer Dylan Tweney claims that Nokia's efforts at mobile maps is "impressive", with screen that refreshes quickly and the ability to tilt or spin your map at considerable speed. What's more, when Maps on Ovi is eventually released, Nokia executives claim that they plan to publish an API that will allow developers to write compatible applications on either PCs or Nokia handsets - but whatever these applications may be, they won't include Google Maps.

Rather convincingly, Tweney states:

"[Nokia's] vision is compelling because it matches the way people actually use their phones, rather than the way engineers think about designing mobile apps. And if anyone can be a credible competitor to Google, Nokia certainly can, with its ability to deploy software and services to a vast army of Nokia phone users."

So could Google be seeing a move away from its key online mapping features - in both the PC and mobile spheres? It seems more possible now than ever, especially if Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope takes off the way in the way it's expected to. And with Yahoo! stepping up its geographical tools as well - in the form of its Internet Location Platform - it's likely that the search giant will be feeling the pressure to pull something truly ground-breaking out of the bag during the next round of Google Earth and Maps updates.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

DoubleClick Mobile integrates with AdMob, AdSense and MBrand

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

DoubleClick, the Google-owned ad platform, has revealed that its delivery system for mobile devices is integrating with a number of ad networks.

Under the terms of the arrangement, DoubleClick Mobile will merge with AdSense, AdMob and Millennial media's MBrand ad networks.

DoubleClick Mobile is part of the DoubleClick Revenue Centre, which provides media sellers with a means by which they can manage their display campaigns in tandem with emerging platforms, such as mobile advertising.

As a result of the integration, developers who use DoubleClick to manage the sale of their mobile display inventory will be able to choose between dealing directly with media buyers or taking automated feeds from the networks.

Commenting on the deal, Omar Hamoui, AdMob's founder and chief executive officer, said: "AdMob is always eager to extend our engineering investments in mobile advertising relevance and optimisation to new platforms.

"We are excited that DoubleClick's clients will now be able to join over 4,000 existing AdMob publishers in leveraging AdMob's ad liquidity and mobile specific ad serving technologies."

Meanwhile, Ari Paparo, group product manager for DoubleClick products, added that the firm believes that providing advertisers with the option to sell mobile inventory directly and indirectly will ultimately lead to "better monetisation" for publishers.

After initially announcing its intention to purchase DoubleClick in April 2007, Google officially completed the acquisition in March of this year.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

Google introduces mobile banner ads service

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Internet giant Google has announced that it is now delivering banner ads on mobile phones.

As a result of the development, firms that use Google's Adwords service will have the option of displaying banner ads on mobile phones instead of plain text.

The banner ads are accompanied by a text line underneath identifying them as an advert and clicking on the banner opens a mobile web page.

According to IDG News Service, a number of other firms already utilise such ads on mobile web pages.

For example, Yahoo!, Third Screen and AdMob provide advertisers with the option of placing banner ads on mobile devices.

However, Greg Sterling, the founding principal of Sterling Market Intelligence, stated that Google has probably not missed the opportunity to make ground in this area, since the usage of mobile internet is still relatively low.

He commented: "It's not like consumer behaviour is established and they're late to the game."

Indeed, the analyst went on to say that Google may in fact have an advantage over rival firms in the field of banner ads because of the way it charges advertisers.

He stated that, with the search engine provider, advertisers can test mobile advertising with less risk because they only pay for what users click on, as opposed to how many times someone views a page with the ad on, for example.

In related news, Google also recently announced the launch of mobile image ads, which appear the same as standard image ads for desktop web pages but are smaller in order to fit on mobile screens.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

AOL expands deal with Verizon

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

AOL has revealed it has expanded its deal with broadband and communications firm Verizon.

Under the terms of the deal, Verizon will become the official provider of advertising for AOL's online and mobile internet properties.

Verizon will use AOL's Platform-A digital ad agency network to sell its online and mobile advertising inventory.

The deal builds on an existing arrangement Verizon had with Third Screen Media, a mobile advertising firm which AOL acquired last year.

According to an AOL statement, "Platform-A's comprehensive services will drive the management and monetisation of Verizon's online and mobile advertising".

Platform-A will now be the only organisation that can represent Verizon's inventory and guarantee placement within the Verizon network.

Commenting on the deal, Lynda Clarizio, president of Platform-A, stated: "We're pleased to have the opportunity to work with a great partner like Verizon to manage and monetise their online and mobile advertising inventory.

"More wireless customers choose the Verizon brand than any other and Verizon has the fastest-growing fibre optic internet service in the country. We look forward to helping marketers reach the right people in engaging and measurable ways."

In related news, Platform-A ranked as the top US ad network in March, according to new figures produced by comScore.

Reportedly, the network reached 90.7 per cent of all web users in the country during the month. Meanwhile, nearest rival Yahoo! reached 85.3 per cent of internet surfers over the 31-day period.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

Opera unveils browser for Google's Android platform

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Opera has made its Opera Mini mobile browser available for Google's Android platform.

The company has this week launched a technical preview of the browser for Android developers on its website and is inviting feedback on the program for the upcoming beta version.

Opera Mini currently has more than 40 million users around the world across a variety of mobile platforms.

Its technology allows the processing of data by compressing it through a remote server. This content is then sent for rendering to the phone applet, enabling browsing across a range of handsets with varying capabilities.

Among the browser's features are small screen rendering, zoom, synchronised bookmarks and integrated Google search.

"Today we're glad to deliver our mass-market mobile browser to the Android development groups," commented Jon von Tetzchner, chief executive of Opera Software.

"Opera Mini will be able to empower users of Android-based handsets with access to all of their favourite websites with popular features for smooth effects and scalable, tailored viewing."

More than 30 mobile and technology firms, including T-Mobile, HTC, Qualcomm, Motorola, eBay, Intel and Samsung, are involved with the Android platform, which was unveiled in November last year.

Google launched a new open source scheme created on Google code hosting entitled apps-for-android last month. The project enables the sharing of sample applications, with the first such program being WikiNotes.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

Yahoo!'s Zimbra expands mobile email availability

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Zimbra, a Yahoo!-owned provider of collaboration software for universities, businesses and service providers, has announced it has expanded its mobile email availability.

As of yesterday (April 3rd), users of Java-enabled mobile phones are able to access ZimbraME, an email and calendar service.

ZimbraME is a Java-based application that can be downloaded wirelessly using mobile devices. It allows users to access their email, contacts and calendars.

Commenting on the new offering, Satish Dharmaraj, Zimbra co-founder and Yahoo! vice president, stated: "ZimbraME is key to delivering on our strategy and commitment to provide the best experience and widest range of desktop and mobile support of any messaging platform in the market today."

He added that in an "increasingly mobile world", a significant number of people use mass-market mobile devices and expect to be able to access information without requiring a smartphone.

Meanwhile, Tom Riley, chief executive officer of Crossroads Wireless, stated: "ZimbraME will provide our users [with] a Web 2.0-like experience on practically any wireless device, giving them functionality previously only available to them via a smartphone or on their PC."

Among the devices that support ZimbraME are the BlackBerry 8800 and 8820 series, the Nokia E61 and N73 handsets, the Motorola RAZR2, and the Sony-Ericsson W950i handset.

Yahoo! purchased Zimbra in September 2007 in a cash deal worth $350 million. In a statement made at the time, Zimbra described the acquisition as a "major opportunity" to accelerate its growth.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

Google Android 'intended to create fragmentation'

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Google has designed its Android platform as a means of promoting the fragmentation of mobile operating systems, an expert has said.

Speaking to the Register, Sanjay Jha, chief operating officer of the chipset division at wireless technology and solution firm Qualcomm, stated that Google wants to ensure that there is no equivalent of Microsoft Office in the mobile phone market.

Launched by the search engine provider in November last year, Android is an open handset alliance described by the firm as "the first complete, open and free mobile platform".

Commenting on the initiative, Mr Jha said: "Google wants fragmentation in the industry [and] is putting a lot of resources behind Linux."

According to the expert, if mobile devices converge on one or two platforms, then developers will decide that it is worth adapting applications only to these platforms.

However, with fragmented environments, Web 2.0 technologies become the "only effective way" in which to create applications for mobile devices.

Qualcomm, which has signed up to become a member of the Open Handset Alliance, demonstrated its Android-based device recently at the CTIA Wireless event in Las Vegas.

According to the Register, the company has Samsung, Motorola and HTC lined up to launch Android handsets later this year.

However, it is said to have an "operating system-agnostic approach" and is "happy to discuss" Limo and other systems in the market.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

Yahoo! opens up oneSearch

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Search engine provider Yahoo! has revealed it is opening up its mobile service oneSearch.

According to a company statement, the move to oneSearch 2.0 will mean that publishers will be able to integrate content. It will also make search "instantly accessible" on the idle screen of many phones and simplify search input - with the addition of Search Assist and voice-enabled search.

Yahoo! says its decision to open up oneSearch is intended to provide users with greater relevance by offering "richer" and "more detailed" browsing results.

Marco Boerries, executive vice president of Connected Life at Yahoo!, said: "With Yahoo! oneSearch 2.0, we are fundamentally changing the way consumers use the internet on their mobile phones."

The Search Assist feature is designed to reduce the time it takes users to enter queries, as well as provide them with a predictive text completion option.

Yahoo! states: "For instance, a consumer searching for information about Hillary Clinton can just type 'hil' and search assist will instantly suggest 'Hillary Clinton', along with the other most common search terms containing those letters."

Meanwhile, in order to provide users with voice-enabled search, Yahoo! is partnering with speech-recognition company vlingo.

Commenting on the development, the Washington Post stated: "Opening up OneSearch is just the latest attempt by Yahoo! to make strides in the mobile internet through openness."

It added: "Yahoo! has been aggressively pushing its presence on mobile phones, which could prove a potent market for advertising and content alongside the PC-based internet."

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

Mobile web 'popular among iPhone users'

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Users of the iPhone device access news and information via their phones more than other mobile phone owners, according to new research.

Figures produced by measurement firm M:Metrics suggest that 84.8 per cent of iPhone users accessed news and information on their phones in January, compared to just 13.1 per cent of the overall mobile phone market and 58.2 per cent of total smartphone owners.

It was also found that 58.6 per cent of the iPhone users surveyed had visited a search engine on their mobile device, compared to 6.1 per cent of mobile users in general and 37 per cent of smartphone owners.

Meanwhile, almost one in three people who own an iPhone (30.9 per cent) reported having watched mobile TV or video clips on their device. This is more than double the percentage of people who used such functions on smartphone devices in general.

Commenting on the findings, Mark Donovan, senior analyst for M:Metrics, stated: "The iPhone has certainly delivered on its hype.

"Beyond a doubt, this device is compelling consumers to interact with the mobile web, delivering off-the-charts usage from everything from text messaging to mobile video."

He added: "While the demographics of iPhone users are very similar to all smartphone owners, the iPhone is outpacing other smartphones in driving mobile content consumption by a significant margin."

First announced by Apple in January 2007, the iPhone was eventually released six months later in the US and reached the UK, Germany and France in November.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia

Google Transit to be released in Southern Hemisphere

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Search engine provider Google has announced it is to roll out its Transit service in the Southern Hemisphere.

The application, which enables users to plan a trip using public transport, was originally launched in December 2005 and is already running in a number of cities across the US, Canada, Europe and Japan.

It allows travellers to calculate their route, transit time and cost, as well as giving them the option to compare the trip to one using a car.

In a new development, the application is set to be released in the Australian city of Perth. According to Google, it will be available in the area "within weeks".

Speaking at the Sydney Opera House, Alan Noble, Google Australia and New Zealand's head of engineering, stated: "It's very, very convenient. We've taken public transportation information - which is sometimes quite difficult for mere mortals to understand - and made this very easy to use on Google Maps," The Age reports.

He added: "What we have is all this information - transit information, driving directions, business listings - and put it in one immediate location."

According to Mr Noble, Google is "looking forward" to making Transit available to all cities in Australia "as soon as possible".

Meanwhile, Mark Burgess, the executive director of Perth's public transport service providers Transperth, stated that the organisation was eager to provide Google with the necessary information for Google Transit, as the application would help to improve transport services.

Digg This! | Save to del.icio.us | Reddit | Submit to Netscape | Google Bookmark This | Furl This | Add to Yahoo MyWeb 2 | Contact bigmouthmedia