Welcome to Research Thread 12 January 2012
- 8ta puts squeeze on competitors by launching data war
- Groupon SA to bolster workforce
- CES 2012: Day 3 Recap – Qualcomm, Viewsonic, and Intel
- December new vehicle sales up
- [2012 trends] 12 specifically South African social media trends
- New television revolution
- Research and Markets Adds Report: South Africa – Convergence – VoIP, NGN and Digital Media
- Absa trials payments via mobile phone
- Motribe Reaches Milestone with 10 000 Tribe Owners
- It’s time for a real tablet strategy
- Facebook improves mobile comments
- Google Fires Back at Twitter: You Took Yourself Out of Search
- Google Apps Gets Its Biggest Deal Ever
- Bing moves ahead of Yahoo in US search for the first time, Google still king
- Proxibid Launches “Proxibid Classifieds” Listing Service
- Realtor.com test-launches ‘hypersocial’ tools
- eBay CEO predicts that sales via mobile will exceed $8bn in 2012
- Major Release of Flynax 4.0 Classifieds Software
- Schibsted announces a recommended cash offer of SEK 1.65 per share in Aspiro
- Facebook like counts grow steadily throughout Q4 2011, with consumers more likely to join communities later in the week
- Social sharing buttons improve email click-through rates by 115%
- Groupon bets on mobile, partners with Deutsche Telekom
- Half billion internet users in China
- Facebook to reach one billion users thanks to emerging markets
- Howzit MSN strides into Africa
- Some Popular Android Devices in the African Market
- How mobile marketing failed in 2011
- Everything you need to know about Facebook’s IPO (infographic)
- Tech’s Doomsday Plots: How Your Favorite Tech Giants Could Lose Their Edge
8ta puts squeeze on competitors by launching data war
Predictions by analysts less than a week ago about a data war in South Africa are now real. The country’s newest mobile operator, 8ta, on Wednesday launched a series of significant data price cuts that are likely to push other operators to react with similar plans.
8ta announced it would reduce broadband services on contract by as much as 25% and also launched a once-off internet bundle priced at R1800 for 120GB, which consists of a 60GB package for anytime use, as well as a 60GB Midnight Surfer bundle for use between 12am and 5am.
Groupon SA to bolster workforce
SA’s most prolific group buying site, Groupon SA, is set to expand extensively in 2012, amid scepticism surrounding the business model and despite various hurdles the industry faces.
According to co-CEO Daniel Guasco, Groupon SA recently expanded its offerings to include travel and product deals on a regular basis, forged “a number of strategic partnerships to solve the traditional challenges of e-commerce”, and is now looking to extensively expand its workforce.
CES 2012: Day 3 Recap – Qualcomm, Viewsonic, and Intel
Day number three of CES 2012 was definitely less hectic and more manageable, but today was the opening of the CES show floor where companies were unveiling and showing off all of their new toys at their respective booths. However, we did have some very notable companies stand up to deliver keynotes, including chip makers Intel and Qualcomm.
New vehicle sales in South Africa improved by about 15.9% to an estimated 571 425 units in 2011 – an improvement of about 78 518 over the previous year.
[2012 trends] 12 specifically South African social media trends
Looking at the future of social media, it’s easy to consider international trends and forget that South Africa is a developing market with unique features. In some ways, particularly mobile adoption, we are ahead of some developed markets, but in others we are still playing catch-up.
The giant Consumer Electronics Show (CES) kicked off in Las Vegas this week, with Korean rivals Samsung and LG unveiling new “smart” television technology that shows clearly how the battle over online media and applications is spreading from computers, phones and tablets and onto big-screen TVs.
It’s now considered only a matter of time — perhaps months or even weeks — before Apple unveils its first foray into flat-panel TVs. The Californian company is strongly rumoured to be planning one or more large-screen devices, possibly running the same iOS operating system that powers its iPhone and iPad devices and connected to a wide array of online apps, movies and television shows.
Research and Markets Adds Report: South Africa – Convergence – VoIP, NGN and Digital Media
In a release, Research and Markets noted that report highlights include: With its relatively well-developed and diverse infrastructure, South Africa is taking a regional lead role in the convergence of telecommunication and information technologies with the media and entertainment sector, promising reductions in telecommunication costs and better availability of information and services. Digital media and social media have reached a level of development to foster an associated advertising and marketing industry. The FIFA World Cup held in the country in 2010 has showcased these developments.
Absa trials payments via mobile phone
Banking group Absa conducted South Africa’s first live user trial of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology on mobile phones in December, with 500 of the bank’s staff members using the technology in a commercial environment.
Motribe Reaches Milestone with 10 000 Tribe Owners
Motribe’s official blog reported that as of January 8th, Motribe reached a significant milestone with the registration of their 10 000th tribe owner. A tribe owner is a user who has created their very own mobile tribe using the Motribe platform, on mobile or desktop.
It’s time for a real tablet strategy
One of the big challenges for publishers in 2012 will involve funding tablet and e-reader product development. As tablet experimentation transitions to full-blown strategy, publishers will need to map out a path for both platform support and the functionality of the digital editions they’re creating for tablets and e-readers.
Facebook improves mobile comments
Facebook has announced a Comments Box plug-in for mobile in an effort to improve the social network’s presence in the social commentary space.
According to reports, Facebook’s Comments Box plug-in is already being used by over 400 000 Web sites.
As a result of the update, when the plug-in detects that a user is using a mobile device, it will automatically show the mobile version. While older versions gave limited support to mobile commenting, there had been complaints that it was too small and at times unresponsive.
Google Fires Back at Twitter: You Took Yourself Out of Search
“We are a bit surprised by Twitter’s comments, because they chose not to renew their agreement with us last summer,” read a post on Google’s Google+ page on Wednesday, which Google confirmed to Mashable was its official statement on the matter. “Since then we have observed their rel=nofollow instructions.”
Google Apps Gets Its Biggest Deal Ever
You may not know about Spanish financial services company BBVA, but it’s got about 110,000 employees in 26 countries, and all of them will be on Gmail by the end of 2012, according to CIO Jose Olalla, who trumpeted the win in a guest post on the official Google blog this morning.
Bing moves ahead of Yahoo in US search for the first time, Google still king
Bing may have edged ahead of Yahoo for the first time in the battle of the search engines, but Google remains way out in the lead.
Proxibid Launches “Proxibid Classifieds” Listing Service
Proxibid (www.proxibid.com), the world’s largest real auction marketplace, today launched Proxibid Classifieds, www.ProxibidClassifieds.com, the Company’s new listing service. Proxibid Classifieds enables auction companies and business sellers the ability to sell items directly to buyers via this simple, easy and affordable new service.
Realtor.com test-launches ‘hypersocial’ tools
While technology continues to evolve the way people buy and sell properties, real estate transactions remain largely based on relationships and trust between agents and clients. To help them connect through online networks and communities, Realtor.com® announces the beta roll out of its mobile-enabled HyperSocial™ agent search tools. Realtor.com, the #1 homes for sale web site, is operated by Move, Inc. (NASDAQ: MOVE), the leader in online real estate.
eBay CEO predicts that sales via mobile will exceed $8bn in 2012
Wednesday evening saw eBay CEO, John Donahoe, take to the stage to give a keynote speech, and it seems that eBay is projecting a big year ahead for its global mobile gross merchandise volume (GMV).
Major Release of Flynax 4.0 Classifieds Software
Flynax Classifieds Software Company launches a new version of its advanced online software for classifieds websites – Flynax version 4.0. The new Flynax version presents a new optimized and enhanced system along with new interface, templates, features, SEO and usability improvements and many other important and useful things.
Schibsted announces a recommended cash offer of SEK 1.65 per share in Aspiro
Schibsted ASA has on 12 January 2012, announced a public offer to the shareholders of Aspiro to transfer all of their shares in Aspiro to Schibsted.
(Aspiro has unique positioning as the world’s only vendor of complete hosted TV and music streaming services to partners that want to put their own branding on these services. Aspiro also offers the WiMP music service direct to consumers on selected markets. )
WaveMetrix analysis of 500 Facebook pages from leading global brands shows that Facebook communities maintained steady week on week growth in Q4 2011. It also reveals that much of this came on Thursdays and Friday, with this being the most likely time for consumers to join new communities.
Social sharing buttons improve email click-through rates by 115%
Email marketing provider GetResponse has analysed the influence of social sharing options on email effectiveness, comparing social sharing preferences of email marketers.
It looked at social media sharing via Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn in more than 2,200m emails sent by GetResponse customers.
The major outcome was that the number of users who include social sharing buttons in their emails increased to 18.3% – an increase of 40% from last year.
Groupon bets on mobile, partners with Deutsche Telekom
Groupon partners with Deutsche Telekom in a bet that mobile will play a key role in helping it continue to grow.
The recently announced strategic partnership will see Groupon’s daily deals integrated into Deutsch Telekom’s mobile services. This is the first time Groupon has partnered with a wireless carrier.
Half billion internet users in China
The number of internet users in China have crossed the half billion mark, reaching 505 million users at the end of November last year, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) reported.
Facebook to reach one billion users thanks to emerging markets
Facebook is set to reach one billion users by August 2012 thanks to emerging markets according to digital marketing firm iCrossing. The firm, made its projection based on the social networking juggernaut’s recent growth.
Howzit MSN strides into Africa
Howzit MSN, one of the largest Web portals in South Africa, has expanded its reach into the rest of the continent with the launch of a dedicated channel for Africa.
Some Popular Android Devices in the African Market
When you talk Smartphones in Africa nowadays, it’s almost impossible to ignore mighty Android, Google’s open source Operating System for mobile devices. Google has been keen on growing it’s foothold in Africa and Android has been a major contributor to Google’s efforts. Coupled with the burgeoning middle class that’s powering Africa into it’s future, Android could see increased adoption as Africans with greater spending power seek the hallmarks of the middle class lifestyle.
How mobile marketing failed in 2011
Mobile marketing failures in 2011 were arguably less about campaigns going horribly wrong, and more about missed opportunity, too little integration of mobile into overall marketing tactics, and the need to be much more strategic about using mobile marketing.
Everything you need to know about Facebook’s IPO (infographic)
Everything you need to know about Facebook’s IPO
Tech’s Doomsday Plots: How Your Favorite Tech Giants Could Lose Their Edge
When Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone five years ago, it was a happy day for the Apple faithful. Less so for the folks at Palm, whose employer became a ticking time bomb. In one move, Apple leapfrogged its rivals in hardware and software and changed the mobile industry forever. And Palm — a touch computing pioneer that lost its way — was toast.
That’s just one example of how quickly a company’s fates can change in today’s fast-moving tech industry. Every company — even those as seemingly strong today as Apple and Google — have clear risks and weaknesses. The iPad could drive Microsoft’s decline. The government could smother Google’s growth efforts. And a mobile player that doesn’t even exist could be the one that takes down Facebook.
I decided to do wrap-up of my year. Be warned, it’s a pretty long read (1400 words)