Smartphone owners worldwide downloaded more than 3.8 billion mobile applications in the first six months of 2010, compared to 3.1 billion in all of 2009, according to new data issued by market analysis firm research2guidance. Global smartphone revenues for the first half of 2010 exceed $2.2 billion, surpassing full-year 2009 revenues of $1.7 billion. The study adds that the average premium application price in now $3.60.

“Apple’s competitors like Nokia and BlackBerry started to leverage their global reach and increased the traffic on their app stores,” said research2guidance analyst Egle Mikalajunaite in a prepared statement. “We see this trend continuing in the next several months and years. The next wave of new app stores will be niche stores specializing on e.g. business or mobile health apps.”

    Key market data      2009 (full year)    1st half year 2010
    App market revenue   $1.7 bn US          $2.2 bn US
    App download number  3.1 bn              3.9 bn

Source : Fiercemobile content

High mobile phone penetration and low access to regular banking services will drive users from 32 million currently, presenting opportunities for m-payment providers in those markets, the firm said.

The geography of the markets is another factor in the expected growth, noting there is a “substantial base of people on a low income spread across vast distances who own mobile phones and require banking services.”

That creates an opportunity for service providers to “meet the need for a more extensive payment distribution network, especially in rural areas,” he added.

The firm predicts traditional banks will take the lead in Brazil and India, while in Russia MNO’s will likely start offering mobile utility bill payment services

China is likely to use SMS infrastructure to develop m-payment systems, the consultancy forecasts

Source : Telecom Asia

Rewarding the best mobile innovations…

Innovative ideas

Click here to view the embedded video.

I recently got the X-mini™ MAX II Capsule Speaker™ from Singapore. It indeed is revolutionary in the world of portable audio technology, striking the perfect balance of pocketsize portability and uncompromising sound quality.

With a simple twist and lift, the avant garde capsule-shaped design unveils a pair of stereo speakers. These stylish speakers, which can also be used individually, pop open to reveal the patented accordion-like Bass Xpansion System™ (BXS™) which successfully mimics the resonance of a sub woofer.

Stunning design, compact and when you connect it to your IPOD or Mobile or Laptop, the music experience is awesome. I could not believe such a small pair of speakers could give such amazing sound. My wife simply became a big fan and so was I. I was really impressed with this amaging piece of engineering.

The best part is its just 49$ and it ships from Singapore. I suggest you have a look and experience the future of sound.A must have for every sound lover.

Check it out the X-Mini II

It initially is available through more than 50 mobile operators in 45 countries and territories with zero data charges.

The site is designed to help solve the barriers in using Facebook — sometimes the experience is too slow to be fun and the cost of data plans, and understanding them can be daunting.

Have a look at the video to get an idea why it is better then the IPhone.

Here are seven ways in which Android 2.2 is superior to the iPhone.

Link:  Seven reasons Android 2.2 Froyo beats the iPhone

Source: Computer World

To avail the service, a subscriber simply needs to dial 543219 (tollfree) and access IVR options to listen to their favourite music, set it as a DiallerTune and even download the Music to their Mobile Phone. The IVR options under this service cover music in 19 languages, making it among the most universal services in India. Users can enjoy music ranging from Bollywood, International, Regional, Devotional and a host of other genres and categories. Users can also share their music updates & Playlists with friends on Facebook & Twitter (Orkut coming soon) by using the ‘# to Socialize’ feature. Each individual user is allocated a direct dial-in to his playlist making the service very user centric and allowing them to Socialize their individual personalities based on the kind of Music they enjoy.

Some of the key points from the Patent

The content received at the device is displayed on the device only while the device is at or near a particular location identified by the location information.

…when the mobile device is within a range of the wireless access point, presenting content on the mobile device associated with the URL; andupon user selection of the content, receiving an application for execution on the mobile device. (sounds like localized iAds to me)

…a user interface operable to present the received content on the device when the device is at or near a location identified by the location information.

The system of claim 24, wherein the content comprises video content, picture content, audio content, multimedia content or routing content associated with a geographical area within a proximate distance to the device based on the location information.

Source:  TechCrunch

Latitude enables smartphone users to triangulate the whereabouts of family and friends, offering the approximate location of contacts that decide to share their activities. In addition, Latitude enables users to communicate via SMS, Google Talk, Gmail or status update, as well as upload new profile photos on the fly.

Source: TechCrunch