Voice Of Allerin

Internet search engine giant Google, on Wednesday February 18,2010, has acquired the email search start up reMail. reMail, is a popular iPhone application, which allows Apple users to access email inboxes while on move. It provides “lightning fast” full text search of user’s Gmail or IMAP email accounts. It indexed to-from fields, subject lines, as well as the full text of the message body. It could auto-complete contact names, saved attachments and supported advanced Boolean search operators. The app impressed a lot of viewers, who noted it was able to complete searches in about a fifth of the time as the native iPhone Mail app.



After the acquisition, Google pulled the app an it is no more available in the apple store. Existing users of the reMail application will still be able to use it. The company will continue to offer support through March and has enabled features that previously required payment.  But the question is, why Google is axing this app? Is it because the app is just too good and Google intends to release it officially, or it just wants to kill it. CNET speculated “Google may have an eye towards incorporating Remail into its Android mobile operating system, or Gmail email service.” However, For Google, the reMail acquisition represents an opportunity to recapture talent previously nurtured by the company: Cselle interned for Google in 2004, before becoming VP of engineering at Xobni, a company that makes software to enhance search in Outlook. Remail was better than the native Iphone email application, so does this means that the Iphone is going to be just that little more crap without it.?

Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the most talked about technology in todayís market, though it has been around since 15 years. In the past years, it was used only for specific applications, like flight simulators and in industry design, but now an entirely new mass market has opened up with the increasing popularity of smartphones and online marketing and is being over glorified. This hype is created mostly due to the availability of video cameras, processors, GPS Data, compasses and acceleratometer on smartphones handsets.



The most important aspect of AR is: that it’s a technology that can create innovative and sustained engagement between a brand and its target consumer, through utility but most of the companies are overlooking this aspect and just trying to be a part of the race of having AR technology. The most unfortunate part is that, the adoption rate of the emerging technology is not based on its utility but as a gimmick. Thus, there are plenty of skeptics who donít find it promising unless companies start looking it beyond the attention-grabber and begin to work on its key usage. PC based AR still have to demonstrate its capabilities rather than bragging its rights in the industry. However, mobile apps seems to offer some scope to capture and retain interests of the customers but there are limitations to this as well, as there are not enough phone that can handle AR well enough. If companies understand this fact and start to explore the opportunities to connect customers with brands, there could be incremental growth in customer retention, sales and finally the revenue of the companies.

 

The search giant Google, after trying its luck in the field of operating system, is all set to challenge the dominant players in the smartphone market. Google has joined the smartphone war by launching its first official smartphone -Nexus One. This launch has created havoc among the other rivals such as RIM, Apple, and Nokia etc in the smartphone market. Nexus One will join the 20 other mobile devices, which work on the operating system developed by Google- Android. Like other smartphones, Nexus One will offer fully integrated web browsing, music and video playing and a large library of applications that users can choose to install to add to their phone’s capabilities.



Since the launch of iPhone, it has reinvigorated the smartphone market and came up as a forefront player. Thus, Google is trying to place Nexus One in direct competition with iPhone and describing its features in comparison with iPhone. Google stated that, its handset is slicker than other smartphones at 11.5milimeter and weight as low as 130 grams. Its screen is larger and camera is better than iPhone. Thus, a simple question arises, - Is Nexus One better than iPhone? Will Google dethrone Apple from smartphone’s market? These questions are tough to be answered at this point in time, however this move of Google has escalated the rivalry between the two Silicon Valley’s most valuable companies- Google and Apple Inc.



The handset is likely to cost consumers $179 in a contract with T-mobile and will be available at $529 independently. This price is twice as much as iPhone sold in conjugation with AT&T. Thus, will consumer be ready to pay double the price for Nexus One, where iPhone has already deepened its roots in the smartphone market? Most of the features are said to be present in the other Android phones, so Google is not only competing with iPhone, Blackberry, Droid etc but also its own Android powered phones.

 

Cable and satellite TV operators need to be alert because Apple Inc., maker of iPhone and iPod, is casting an eye on new business opportunities. Subscription TV service, which will offer access to some TV shows from a selection of major US television network via internet, can shake the roots of cable and satellite TV giants.



The concept behind this service is to deliver content to the users of TV via the internet. For this, Apple is in talks with various network operators. CBS and Disney is considering the deal and since Apple’s CEO, Steve Jobs, is the largest shareholder of Disney, it could be the first to sign the deal – but no network has so far given confirmation. With the launch of subscription TV service, users can enjoy television programming at much cheaper rates than they have to pay for their cable and satellite television services. The plan would include the ability to subscribe to a particular network or even to a specific show of the subscriber’s choice and the content will be delivered to the user’s computer, iPhone, iPod or Apple TV (or Apple-enabled TV?).



The success of this plan by Apple could alter the economies of the television business. The most affected industry segment  would be cable and satellite TV operators. Cable revenue is already feeling the cold breeze due to certain online sites like HULU, which offers commercially supported streaming videos of TV shows and movies from NBC, Fox, ABC and many more.



 Subscription TV plans sounds promising and exciting but the real picture will come after its launch. Currently there are many things that are behind the curtain and look hazy; for example, the number of available shows from each network via Apple service is still unclear. To be successful in this business Apple has to face tough competition from movie rental companies like Netflix, Inc. and online sites like HULU. Thus Apple has to keep its plans ready to fight such competition before launch of its service.

Smartphones are just becoming big deal for customers. If we move around we can see number of smartphones in use in our everyday life. Now such anecdotes are not just isolated instances but part of our technology driven lifestyle. Most of the users are beginning to realize the possible gain from this device. They understood that mobile is not only meant to send and receive SMSs and make and receive calls but also they can download more and more applications , check emails, connect to social networking sites and what not. The uptake of smartphone devices are occurring 5times as fast as the uptake of desktop internet did.



Data shows that 2009 is not moderately good year for smartphone market in terms of revenue due to the turbulent economic meltdown but better results are expected out of 2010.Different analysts have quoted different figures for the rate of growth of smartphone market in year 2010 as per their research and analysis. Some say it will grow at the rate of 36% while other quoted 33%, however one thing is certain that smartphone market will take a leap in 2010.This soar is possible because of the burgeoning smartphone market in countries like India, China, Brazil and Russia. India has huge subscriber base of 500million and one of the fairly advanced mobile networks. The rate of adoption is slow in India but the opportunity is large to explore. China is expected to take a lead position replacing US in the race due to operator’s aggressive promotion of smartphones using wider portfolios, more attractive pricing for services and new initiatives to increase public awareness about the device. Another reason supporting the growth is Nokia and Google pushes their OS in cheaper handsets which will increase their sales volume and also the optimistic economic scenario to come in 2010. Dell is going to be another player in this market as Reuters reports that Dell is working on an Android phone to be distributed by AT&T in the US market. Thus due to the inflow of more number of devices in the market price of smartphones is also dropping making it accessible to the price conscious customers also. Thus mobile industry is pinning its hopes on Smartphones as the drivers of growth in 2010.

 

Despite of any industry like IT, Real Estate, Banking and Insurance, Pharmaceuticals, Government agencies etc, meeting customer demands has become the top priority for all organization to get the competitive advantage. The escalating number of customers with wide range of demands is making it difficult for organizations to meet up customer’s satisfaction and perform business. But with the implementation of business intelligence technology, organizations have better sources data and thus better control over decision they make.



Number of Business Intelligence (BI) software users is increasing from hundreds to thousands and as per the market research data it will be counted in millions. Before it was mostly used in mature organizations where they had an existing and established system in place which made it easier for them to add BI technology as an overlay to the system. Current market conditions are driving 600,000 small and mid sized companies (9% of the PC owner) to deploy BI technology this year. While direct consequences of closing of many companies big, medium and small, financial losses etc BI industry might have stood out of the smoke better off than other industries but to some percentage felt the heat of it, however analysts report says that by 2010, 20% of organization will put into practice BI software and the figure will jump to 40% by 2020.



In past few years BI software is gaining importance and in future organizations will rely only on real time data to make quick, smart and informed decision and for an optimized process.

Global economy is set for a modest recovery by the year 2010 and analysts have anticipated that IT industry will be transformed by revolution in domains like Cloud Computing, mobile device and Mobile Apps. Social networking could also continue to dominate the industry. This news got validity with the announcement done by top players in the mobile industry like Apple, Google Nokia, and Samsung etc for the launch of news mobile apps by 2010.



To top in the race Apple has announced that it will submit 180,000 new apps in 2010 to reach a figure of 300,000 apps. This figure seems quite unachievable and to accomplish this Apple has to approve 692 apps per day for 52 weeks (excluding weekends.). To give not so tough competition to Apple, Android will add 80,000 new apps to its existing 20,000 apps pool and for this Google needs to submit 307 apps per day for 52 weeks (excluding weekends). Nokia has also decided to focus more on apps rather than mobile handsets. However it might be difficult for app stores to maintain such a vast library and also for users, who might not get enough time to check all apps to see what strikes them. Thus this apps flood may be a blessing as well as a curse.



Another wave of technology in 2010 could be growth social networking sites. With mobile handsets becoming more sophisticated with the development of smartphones, social networking sites have gone mobile. With its unique online presence promotes ongoing consumers interest. Now consumers doesn’t take out their mobiles just to check mails, messages or calls but also to tweet or scrap. Thus mobile will take social networking site to the next destination by 2010 with a total revenue expected to reach to $ 665 million and may play a significant role in the recovery of global economy.

The world’s largest software company which powers more than 90% of personal computers is trying to pump in as much energy as possible to again strengthen its grip on PC market by winning the customer back after the disappointment faced due to Vista by launching windows 7 on Thursday, October 22, 2009. It is supposed to be the most important release for Microsoft in past few years to reboot its market position, brand image and its profitability as windows ass almost half of company’s profit.

During the launch Microsoft CEO re-emphasized Microsoft’s theme surrounding windows 7 of simplicity, faster boot time simplifying everyday’s functionality and adding new applications. Early signs seem to indicate that CEO’s flowery speech during the launch has succeeded in creating something that users find it usable and reviews are quite respectful. Some 8 million people participated in the windows 7 beta process.

Now that Windows 7 is ready to be hit, time has come to see if it succeed in leaving an impression on users or will prove to be as disappointing as Vista.

Innovation is a tool for survival in this highly competitive and changing world. Users today have access to endless number of choices among the products and technologies which are almost identical. Differentiate or die has become the mantra of companies who find a way to separate their brands from competitors. Thus in this era of innovate and survive, search engine giant Google has come up with a product  “ Google Wave” which they claim will change the way we communicate.

Google wave is a real time communication platform. “Real time” means the information is transmitted as user creates it. The most important element the product is “Wave” which is described as the conversation or document that can be shared and transmitted in real time. Any participants can reply in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Wave combines aspects of productivity tool, social networks and micro blogging. One of the most interesting features is that user can capture every change made in the wave and can see its replay. Thus like before has come up with something very interesting and exciting .Continuous usage of Google Wave can change the face of email communication.

The dust of rivalry between Google and Microsoft on Bing and Chrome couldn’t even settle down, Google is hit by Apple as Apple has decided to say Good Bye to Google map used in IPhone as Apple has quietly bought PlaceBase, a mapping service provider. Placebase provide similar service as Google map but with much robust customization and set of APIs for layering data set over map.

Not only Google Map, Apple has abandoned other applications of Google like Google Voice ad Google latitude. Hence their friendly relation is steadily moving towards being frenemies.  The top brass of Apple wrote that the new application Apple map will be totally Google free, more customized and more transparent to the end user. However this contention is between the two giants where as Iphone users are expecting something innovative and more interesting than the previous app.