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Dan R.D.

Current Analysis Ranks AT&T a Top Provider of Machine-to-Machine Services [21June11] - 0 views

  • According to the Current Analysis report, AT&T's strengths include: Providing "custom solutions" for companies, including expanded professional services, targeted to specific business needs Offering cost-effective services to global customers, with expanding global M2M footprint Developing key relationships with platform providers to provide enhanced services for M2M customers Excellent traction with 12 million Connected Devices in Q1-11 "AT&T continues to add value to its M2M solutions," wrote Kathryn Weldon, Principal Analyst, Current Analysis. "AT&T has made a number of recent alliance announcements with application platform providers, which adds to its arsenal of solutions."
Dan R.D.

Automated Feeder Monitoring, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology [22Jun11] - 0 views

  • For years, scientists have kept track of who’s who by attaching colored bands to birds’ legs and then keeping a vigilant eye out for the marked bird to return. Now, a technology called RFID (radio frequency identification) is automating that vigilance, and yielding more detailed information than scientists ever dreamed possible. A recent study at the Cornell Lab kept track of 129 separate songbirds on a staggering 650,000 individual feeder visits over a period of 5 months (see “What We’ve Learned Already,” below). Instead of pulling 24-hour vigils, the scientists needed to spend only about 6 hours per week tending these wired feeders.
Dan R.D.

Banjo's New Mobile App Connects People & LocationsInternational Forum on Internet of Th... - 0 views

  • Banjo has three main goals. One is to connect you to your social networking friends you didn’t know were nearby – for example, a friend from Facebook or Twitter, killing time at the airport, only a few gates away from you. It also wants to hep you find out what’s going on nearby by providing access to status updates and tweets from everyone around you, in a radius you specify. And it provides you with a way to virtually visit other locations, even when you’re far away, to see what’s going on with the people there.
  • The people Banjo finds don’t necessarily have to have “checked in” using a location-based networking service like Gowalla, Foursquare or Facebook Places. While that helps, of course, Banjo is designed to also pull in locations from geotagged tweets, uploaded photos, and other media from all social networking services. Wait – all? Yes, that’s the plan. Patton says they have 22 services they’re focused on integrating now, but the company’s goal is to become a federation of all social networks, big and small, from around the world.
Dan R.D.

ioBridge News and Projects» Beer Robot [22Jun11] - 0 views

  • Master tinkerer [Ryan Rusnak] created the very popular BEER ROBOT. With a press of button on Ryan’s iPhone, the mini fridge armed with an air cannon and webcam fires a beer at him with deadly accuracy. Ryan linked the controls to the iPhone using the ioBridge IO-204 module. So, in reality he could control his creation from anywhere in the world via the Internet. Less exciting and deadly are Ryan’s ability to remotely monitor and control the temperature of the refrigerator also via ioBridge. The Mini Fridge Beer Robot is featured in Popular Science magazine in the June 2011 issue: Inventions of the Year. In this PopSci, you can learn how-to create your very own beer firing robot with a step-by-step guide. The beer robot, dubbed the ioFridge, is the perfect connection between man and machine! And, when we created ioBridge, you better believe we saw a future of armed machines that are web-enabled. Congrats on making PopSci and getting us one step closer…
Dan R.D.

Hactivate - A participant's perspective [22Jun11] - 0 views

  • Both of these hacks were fully fledged platforms, another great project was more of a utility. ScanCampaign allows users to generate their own QR codes, which the author hoped could be used for donations to charity or for campaigns such as UK Uncut – to quickly share information.
  • Taking disparate data sources and giving them a unified view is tricky: do the data sets match? can you link the concepts contained? and so on. These guys did a great job doing those things and provided plenty of hooks for further thought.
Dan R.D.

Wireless S Smart Cities platform from Libelium allows to monitor noise, pollution, stru... - 0 views

  • From Libelium: Libelium, a technology leader in wireless sensor networks, announces the completion of its Smart Cities platform. The new sensor board measures noise pollution, dust quantities (PM-10), structural health (cracks detection and propagation) and garbage levels in bins in order to improve the waste management. This board may be combined in a network with previously available sensor boards for gas monitoring, radiation detection and Smart Parking. System integrators can now create a comprehensive range of services based on the Smart Cities platform. Read more here.
Dan R.D.

Cracking the code of mobile advertising [22Jun11] - 0 views

  • Mobile advertising revenue reached $700 million in the U.S. in 2011, according to Gartner research group. That’s a drop in the ocean compared to Internet ad revenue, which hit $7.3 billion in just the first quarter of 2011, according to figures from the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
  • Concerns about privacy, tracking and the disclosure of personal information could limit the number of people opting in to targeted or local ad mobile campaigns, said Jason Koslofsky, an attorney who specializes in consumer privacy and telecommunications at Arent Fox. Businesses have also been hesitant for these same reasons. “It hurts brands if it looks as though they are generating spam,” Koslofsky said, adding,“companies shouldn’t want to be seen as though they are tracking their users’ every move.”
  • While 9% of adults in the U.S. said they would use their phones to learn about in-store promotions or event, interest in location-based offers was low, according to a report in February by Forrester Research. Only 6% of adults in the U.S. said that they are interested in receiving location-based retail offers on their mobile phones and only 4% are interested in receiving time-sensitive promotions such as daily specials.
Dan R.D.

Glympse Raises $7.5 Million To Help You Share Your Location, A Few Hours At A Time [22J... - 0 views

  • Of course, oftentimes you don’t really want to tell all of your friends where you are, and even then you may only want them to be able to see your whereabouts for a short while. That’s where Glympse comes in. The service, which is based entirely around ‘sharing your where’ with select friends a few hours at a time, has just raised a $7.5 million Series B funding round led by Menlo Ventures and Ignition Partners.
  • Say, for example, you were running late for a meeting and wanted your coworkers to have a sense for when you’d be arriving at the office. Instead of having to send a series of text messages (“15 minutes..”, “traffic bad, make that 30 min”, and so on), you could just send a Glympse that let them track your progress on a map. Then, when you arrived, you could turn the Glympse off and the map would stop updating.
  • So where is Glympse going next? The company isn’t sharing much about its future plans, other than to say that they’re working with partners to integrate the product into “the everyday life experience”. In other words, expect them to move well beyond their own iPhone and Android apps in the near future.
Dan R.D.

Global optical networking market on the up [22Jun11] - 0 views

  • The global optical networking market is estimated to reach revenues of $20 billion in 2016, according to analyst firm Ovum. The global market is forecast to grow at 6% CAGR between 2010 and 2016, driven by investment from carriers in 40G and 100G networks. This level of growth, however, will vary according to region, with the North American market, for instance, estimated to grow by 12% this year while the Asia-Pacific market is predicted to contract by a further 3.2% in 2011. “Increasing bandwidth from residential broadband networks, mobile networks, and enterprises is the key driver of the growth. Carriers are investing in access networks and mobile long-term evolution (LTE) roll-outs are beginning to gain momentum,” said Ovum analyst Ian Redpath. “The optical networking market is also reaching a watershed moment in terms of technology. Networks based on 40G and 100G wavelengths are now poised for mass-market deployment.”
Dan R.D.

Ex-AdMob Employees Make Paying for Things on the Phone a Snap - Tricia Duryee - Commerc... - 0 views

  • Card.io, which was founded by Mike Mettler and Josh Bleecher, has raised $1 million in seed funding.
  • Card.io is focused on solving a specific part of the mobile payments business — buying things with a credit card on the phone, whether it’s digital goods, like a song, or physical goods from a site like Amazon.
  • Rather than having to type in the credit card number, users just hold a credit card up to the phone’s camera, which automatically reads the card information and enters the appropriate data.
  •  
    looks like a sensible mobile payment solution to me. 
Dan R.D.

An "Open" Perspective on Near Field Communications [22Jun11] - 0 views

  • Currently NFC is seen as one of the most exciting areas in our industry in terms of revenue generation: projections show up to 700 million NFC-enabled mobile phones will be sold by 2013, according to Jupiter Research. At Nokia, however, we would argue that the industry's current focus on secure NFC may be at the expense of realizing the potential of open NFC. As pioneers in NFC technology, and as a founder of the NFC Forum, Nokia believes that open NFC will have a far greater impact on consumer behavior and the NFC ecosystem than secure NFC will. Open NFC has the potential to spur a vast number of business opportunities for developers, retailers, advertisers, electronics manufacturers and others.
  • NFC tags, which cost only a few cents, offer huge potential for advertisers, retailers and others to reach, reward and stay in touch with their customers. These tags can be promoted at any location, including a phone retail point, a coffee shop, or even at the local supermarket, with immediate and measurable results.
  • Open NFC will benefit consumers on a much larger scale and get people familiar with using their device for NFC interactions, before secure NFC reaches a high level of penetration. As more and more NFC phones come to the market in 2011 and 2012, open NFC will change the way consumers interact with each other and open up a host of opportunities for developers both large and small.
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  • As more and more NFC phones come to the market in 2011 and 2012, open NFC will change the way consumers interact with each other and open up a host of opportunities for developers both large and small. We believe that developers will embrace the opportunity offered by open NFC in creating apps for sharing information, reading tags, joining social networks and more. And this open NFC opportunity will be realized long before secure NFC takes off.
Dan R.D.

Wireless M2M security apps to rocket [23Jun11] - 0 views

  • Vehicle tracking and recovery remains the major application area for wireless M2M communication in the security industry, using devices that combine GPS with GSM and GPRS technologies. The main markets in terms of units and value include tracking of passenger cars and commercial vehicles. However, there are also several emerging niche markets, such as construction equipment as well as leisure vehicles and boats.
  • “There is still a significant untapped potential in the residential market segment for monitored alarms,” commented André Malm, senior analyst at Berg Insight. He added that only about 25% of the 30 million alarm systems in Europe are connected to an alarm receiving centre. The latest generation of monitored alarm systems with GSM and GPRS is well adapted to the residential market as many households abandon PSTN services.
Dan R.D.

Global optical networking market to be worth US$20 billion by 2016 [22Jun11] - 0 views

  • The global optical networking (ON) market will reach revenues of $20 billion by 2016, as the sector pulls itself out of the economic downturn, predicts Ovum in a new forecast. However, the independent telecoms analyst warns that although the global market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% from 2010 to 2016, not all of the regions will see strong growth. Ian Redpath, Ovum analyst and author of the forecast, said that "increasing bandwidth from residential broadband networks, mobile networks, and enterprises is the key driver of the growth. Carriers are investing in access networks and mobile long term evolution (LTE) rollouts are beginning to gain momentum. The ON market is also reaching a watershed moment in terms of technology. Networks based on 40G and 100G wavelengths are now poised for mass-market deployment.
Dan R.D.

Newswire / Millennial Net, Inc. Receives Best Application of Wireless Sensor Networks A... - 0 views

  • “Wireless sensor networks are the enabling technology for key applications in defense, health care, home and industrial automation and energy management. Technology leaders have recognized this fact and are providing high end application solutions for their customers based on advanced WSN technology. The Millennial Net Energy Management System which includes LEM energy sub meters, wireless pneumatic thermostats and numerous other devices allow for monitoring and control of commercial, public and light industrial buildings of several hundred thousand square feet with unprecedented scalability and reliability, leading to substantial energy savings and ROIs of around 1 year,” said Dieter Schill, President and CEO of Millennial Net.
  • This gateway connects the networked devices to existing Building Management System via BACnet or communicates with hosted internet-based application for monitoring and control. The devices are designed to work with legacy HVAC systems, fixtures, and appliances, making it unnecessary to upgrade HVAC equipment to save energy. Energy savings are achieved by improved compliance and energy policy enforcement.
Dan R.D.

RFID News Roundup - RFID Journal [23Jun11] - 0 views

  • SAS Airlines begins distributing NFC stickers for frequent flyers' mobile phones; Help Alert solution supports mobile-phone app for student and staff safety; Sony Ericsson selects NXP's NFC solution for its Android-based smartphones; Isle of Wight Festival guests sport contactless wristbands; U.K. mental-health facility deploys AeroScout's patient- and staff-safety solution; Secura Key offers updated card-ordering guide, intros Web training; Libelium adds new sensor board to Smart Cities solution.
Dan R.D.

Amex, Foursquare take mobile wallet scheme national [23Jun11] - 0 views

  • Program doesn't require coupons or NFC chips; discounts appear on Amex statements after a purchase
  • Computerworld - American Express Thursday announced the national rollout of mobile payment system that pairs its Amex credit card with a user's smartphone-based Foursquare profile to offer discounts for retail purchases. The discounts, initially available from retailers H&M and Sports Authority, are credited to a user's Amex card within three to five days of a purchase, the company said, adding that no coupons, smartphone codes or NFC smartphone chips are needed. Foursquare, a mobile platform that uses GPS technology, currently has more than 10 million subscribers who use the service as a social network to share their location with friends. The joint effort requires that cardholders register with Amex to link their card to their Foursquare profile.
Dan R.D.

The Shrinking of the Non-Social Web [23Jun11] - 0 views

  • Online video is exploding, with annual user growth of more than 45 percent. Mobile-device time spent increased 28 percent last year — with average smartphone time spent doubling. And social networks are now used by 90 percent of U.S. Internet users — for an average of more than four hours a month.
  • Every venture capitalist, Web publisher, and digital marketer is hyper-aware of these three trends.
  • What replaces the declining searchable Web is a new and “fully connected” digital life. You may have heard this before. After all, the promise of the Web was to connect pages with hyperlinks. Well, this time, “connected” means much more. It means the Web connects us, as people, to each one of the individuals online; and those connections, ultimately, extend from one of us to all of us.
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  • Now, the Web knows who we are (identity), is with us at all times wherever we go (mobile), threads our relationships with others (social), and delivers meaningful experiences beyond just text and graphics (video).
  • The old searchable Web is crashing; while the new connected, social Web is lifting off. The implications for publishers are massive.
  • SEO’s strategic value is quickly fading as Google’s growth slows and its prominence in distribution slides away. In its place, Facebook has become the wiring hub of the connected Web — a new “home base” alternative to Google’s dominance of the last decade.
  • But social discovery builds a relationship. Leveraging social endorsements and an environment of serendipitous discovery, consumers meet publishers in a meaningful context. As a result, the relationship that forms is stronger — and, more importantly for publishers, it’s branded.
  • The greatest innovators in social media are driving exactly along that edge today. As one friend commented recently on the full potential of connected lives, by being joined more closely together, we can increase empathy and meaning, while decreasing isolation.
Dan R.D.

Shop at a Virtual Supermarket in a Subway Station with a Smartphone? [23Jun11] - 0 views

  • Their solution to competing with their larger (more supermarkets) competitor was to create virtual stores using large wall spaces in subway stations that are full-size photos of their supermarket products. Customers use thei smartphones to scan QRcodes to a virtual shopping cart. Once the order is complete, the items are delivered directly to them after they arrive at their homes. Homeplus: Virtual Subway Store (WeLoveViral) More than ten thousand customers visited the online store using their smartphones. New registered members rose by 76% and online sales rose 130%. This marketing and sales technique increased their sales without increasing retail store space. And, it made shopping more convenient for busy people. Thanks to Megan O’Neill for the pointer to this great mobile story.
Dan R.D.

Why Turntable.fm is the most exciting social service of the year [25Jun11] - 0 views

  • That viral growth is deserved, too. Turntable.fm is arguably the most interesting social startup to emerge in a long time. Inventing a new subgenre, ‘social listening’, the site revels in something humans have enjoyed for millennia: shared experiences around music. If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s how it works: You can only sign up if a friend of yours on Facebook is already signed up. Once you’re in, the site lets you DJ, playing songs in an on-screen ‘nightclub’. Others come to listen to you in your ‘room’ and can join you on the decks if they choose. Multiple DJs (up to five) play a song each in turn and everyone else in the room gets to vote on the current DJ’s choice. If your choice gets voted up, you get a point. If it gets voted down by too many people it’s ditched for the next DJ’s choice.
  • when DJs demonstrate that they’re listening to each other by playing off each others’ track selections, there’s a commonality that transcends… individual achievements. Social games that offer the promise of individual success may be missing out on the uniqueness of shared experiences capable of creating shared surprise and pleasure. As when tracks flow well, as when it’s clear that DJs are not just picking their own favorites but show that they’re paying attention to each other, as when a “good” stretch of DJing attracts newcomers to the room, and so on.
  • A new way for media companies to interact with their audiences: Earlier this week, we experimented with setting up our own The Next Web room (you can often find TNW staff spinning tunes in there). One tweet brought in a crowded room and it was fun for us to be able to play music with our readers. Music is a brilliant bonding tool and being able to have direct group chat with readers can help media companies get to know their audience better, and vice versa. I even got teased with knowledge of a stealth startup over the chat function yesterday – so maybe we’ll get a few news tips this way too!
Dan R.D.

Conductive nanocoatings for textiles could lead to thin, flexible electronics [08Jun11] - 0 views

  • Not long ago, we reported on a prototype thin, flexible smartphone known as the Paperphone. While it isn't actually made out of paper, the success of a research project at North Carolina State University indicates that phones in the future could be. Scientists there have been able to deposit conductive nanocoatings onto textiles, meaning that items such as pieces of paper or clothing could ultimately be used as electronic devices.
  • smart fabrics.
  • "Research like this has potential health and monitoring applications since we could potentially create a uniform with cloth sensors embedded in the actual material that could track heart rate, body temperature, movement and more in real time," said Dr. Jesse Jur, NCSU assistant professor of textile engineering, chemistry and science, and lead author of a paper on the technology. "To do this now, you would need to stick a bunch of wires throughout the fabric - which would make it bulky and uncomfortable."
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