Looks Like Google Plus Is Now Accepting Invitations (Updated: It's gone again)

Update: Looks like I spoke too soon. I managed to get about 10 people in before the icon disappeared. I've managed to get most people who requested a Plus invitation in but there a few left still. Again, if you want one and have a bit of patience, let me know and I'll do what I can to put you through.

Looks like Google is allow Plus members to invite people. There is no loop hole required this time.

I don't know how long this will last but if you want one, e-mail me at at paul.public.acct@gmai.com sooner rather than later. Or if you know someone who has Plus, beg for an invitation from your friend.

Exodus from Facebook continues.

Spotify Accepting US Sign-Ups

Hello, everyone!  It's a new day!

Spotify is now accepting sign-ups for services.  Here is the link to their sign-in page.  And yes, I've already put my name forth.  

I started using this a while back, courtesy of Dave the Mobile Warrior who helped me set it up.  

No pricing has been announced but expect it to be free for a few hours of streaming and if you can't get enough of it, you can sign up for a subscription.  According to Macrumors, €5 to €10 per month for European users.  I think we'll see about $10.  But to do well, I think they would need to go as low as $5 a month.  After all, you already get Netflix streaming for $8 a month.  It would not make sense for a music service to cost more than video streaming.

So, what are you waiting for.  Sign up now!

Note:  Remember those unlimited data plans I mentioned yesterday that are going away.  They're pretty handy when I needed to catch up on some TV shows.  Now with music streaming, those plans are even more valuable.

Another Note:  Amazon and Google both offer music lockers for users to stream their own music while Apple will have iTunes Match for $25 a month that allows users to store their music in the cloud.  I love competition!

A First: President Of the United States Hosts Twitter Town Hall (11AM PST, 2PM EST)

In a first, President Barack Obama will be hosting a virtual town hall meeting via twitter.  According to GigaOM, the meeting will take place at 11 am PST.  If you want to ask the President question, simply type in your question with the tashtag #AskObama.

More than just a publicity stunt, political leaders are increasing aware of the power of social media and mobile tech.  On top of that, it will allow President to gain a accurate feel for what youths today are thinking and feeling.  After all, the President's successful 2008 Presidential bid owe in large part to the youth vote.  Today, the youth segment of the population are increasingly anxious about their jobs, debts, and future.

And these are very well educated electorate who can determine the President''s 2012 reelection bid.  Furthermore, the White House and the campaign will be pouring over the Twitter data from the virtual town hall to see what's being asked, where they're asking from, and the number of retweets taking place.

I just hope Twitter has the server capacity ready for this.  Obviously, you can follow the town hall on your mobile

Note: The town hall meeting starts in an hour.

Microsoft Wants $15 For Every Galaxy device Samsung Sells; Nortel Loss For Google Became Just Ever More Critical

According to TechFlash, Microsoft, fresh of some victories against Android makers including HTC who will be paying Microsoft $5 for every HTC phone it makes, is going after Samsung for $15 of every Galaxy phone it sells.  Considering the pricing pressure it sometimes has to go through, Samsung's Galaxy success could also cost it big.  

And there's where all these companies with huge arsenals of wireless and mobile patents play such a big role in the ever evolving and interesting war.  Why?  Considering many sources already saying that Microsoft makes more money going after Android licensees than selling its own Windows Phone software, this is saying a lot.

And on top of Google's losing bid for Nortel's wireless, specifically LTE, patents to a consortium lead by Apple, Google really has nothing else to help fend its partners from Microsoft, Nokia, or even Apple from asking for future royalty payments on the patents they won.

Do you see a pattern here?  Of course you do.  Just because you're paranoid does not mean that someone isn't out to get you.  That's exactly what I see here.  And in war, all is fair.  And Google's mobile enemies are looking to stunt if not outright destroy Android.  Hey, if the table was turned, I am sure the same could be done to iPhone or anyone else.

However, I don't think Apple with its recently won Nortel patents can really do much damage to the market.  Since it and others were vetted by various government agencies, I like to think that as patent owners, Apple will not be able to stem competition in the market place.  Still, Apple does look a whole lot scarier now.

It addition to having Microsoft asking for its share of the Android pie, Samsung is in the midst of a potential divorce with Apple as the two companies lobbed lawsuit after lawsuit across three continents.  

It'll be interesting to see just when, not if, Nortel's patents come into play.  And the thing is that there is absolutely nothing Google can do to help its Android partners.

Location-Based Coupons: Lots Of Deals But Not All Are Good

I recently tried to redeemed a coupon that I bought off LivingSocial.  It's for a restaurant called Cafe 322 in Southern California.  I had hope to write about my wonderful experience there but it was not the case.  In fact, we did not mange to get in.

The reason was that there was a coverage charge to get into the place, something that LS forget to mention.  And on top of that, while the email described it as a Finnish restaurant, it was selling pizza and pasta.  Even a sign on the cafe said "Italian".

On top of that, it was a very loud place and we had children with us.  We thought about sitting outside but there were people there.  And there is no smoking allowed in restaurants in California.  

While I hope to go back before my coupon expires (which I think is probably not legal to  have an expiration date), you really have to be careful with what appears to be good deals on LivingSocial, Groupon, or other up-and-coming companies that offer these deals.  

I got a couple AMC movie ticket yesterday for $4 each.  That was a good deal.  But these are and far in between the massage and manicure coupons.  

So, my suggestion is to watch out.  Do a lot of research.  I did so for Cafe 322 but apparently it was not enough.  Apparently, there were a few Yelp reviewers who used their LS coupon there and the rating was just par.

I think it's important that LS and Groupon also provide a feedback on user experiences so they themselves can see who they want to associate with.  

Official Pokemon Coming to Mobile

Never thought I would be able to blog about this so here it goes. From the first post I've read, Phandroid is reporting an official Pokemon game is making it's way to Android and the iPhone.



So far few details are available. It will be available this summer and It'll be free (Touch Arcade).

It will be a tapping game based on Pokemon music.

What? You expected something more? With Nintendo just announcing the Wii successor and the 3DS coming a long nicely, it is unlikely we will see a full featured title. Obviously, such titles would be very popular with mobile gamers on the iPhone and Android devices.

Short of hell freezing over, simple tapping Pokemon games are all we can expect for now.

Location Based Revenue to Reach $10 Billion by 2016

Strategy Analytics, a research firm that I've referenced on a few occasions, is saying that location-based services, like Foursquare, will likely reach $10 billion by 2016 - with half of that coming from advertising.  In addition to that, GigaOM mentioned that privacy issues regarding location tracking will remain a big concern.  I think it's a valid point but I also think $10 billion is a small pond given the number of players that are involved.

I've already mentioned Foursquare, but others like Facebook and Google are also angling for a piece of this market.  And there are probably half a dozen other services that I can think of right of the top of my head that will vie for some of the mobile consumers' attention.  

My concern is the privacy of consumers like myself.  As a Foursquare user, I have yet to see any returns and yet, I've been offering Foursquare information regarding some of my habits.  I am sure with other users, they likely have more to gain from their check-in experiences than I do.  Having said that, storing of GPS information on mobile devices as well as the ease with which these companies can track users can be quite daunting and I reckon most users have not really thought things through.

It will be the comfortable level, as the post mentioned, that will ultimately decide if this market takes off.  And a lot is at stake.  Revenues from coupons and advertising is only the beginning.  And there are probably other innovative means to accrue profit that we have not yet seen.  And consumer and privacy issues aside, the market would need to be much bigger than just $10 billion five years from now.  Why is that?  Interests from the above mentioned companies are going to be needed.  Research and innovative energy must also be brought to focus on this market.  

With a sizable pie, the location based market could just something a few hard-core users dwell in.  

I have a few predictions I like to share.  In a few years, we will see a few of these companies consolidate or snatched off the market.  While I am not sure that Google and Facebook, with a larger user base would be interested but companies like Yahoo, Microsoft, or even wireless carriers could see value in a large installed base.  I have seen some level of loyalty among the location-based market.  Such loyalty could be of some value.  

Not to be outdone, Pyramid Research, via Marketing Mag, reckons the $10 billion target will be reached a year earlier, 2015.  PR mentioned Yelp as a candidate to benefit from this.  

Only time will tell if either of these researches are accurate.  Personally, I hope the privacy issue will be resolved first before the market takes off.  There is pending legislation in Congress that will limit the use of location based data.  The Center for Democracy and Technology has a very good article on this issue pending.  Honestly, would you really trust Facebook to know your every step and selling that information to the highest bidder?

Source:  GigaOM, Marketing Mag.