CTIA - The Wireless Association® Blog - Mobile Content

CTIA Launches Common Short Codes Media Monitoring Process

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:23:00 -0500

With more than 270 million wireless subscribers in America, it comes as no surprise that companies are increasingly using common short codes (CSC) in their marketing and branding strategies. CSCs allow anyone, including media, entertainment, consumer packaged goods, advertising or technology companies to connect mobile users with their goods and services using interactive applications never before available in the wireless industry.

In a press release issued last Monday, we announced the launch of a new media monitoring process to validate that the promotional materials used to market short code campaigns comply with the industry’s Consumer Best Practices.

The addition of media monitoring has expanded the capabilities of the wireless industry's "CSC Auditing and Monitoring Initiative" to provide consumers with greater protection from entities that are non-compliant. This new process will capture the promotional campaign information that is offered in print, online, radio and television advertisements.

So, what does this mean for consumers? The new media monitoring process will enable consumers to engage more confidently in programs by knowing that there are standards in place and mechanisms designed to provide greater oversight and prevent unscrupulous behavior.

For more information on common short codes and the new media monitoring process, click here.

To view the wireless industry’s Consumer Best Practices, click here.

Keeping Kids Safe in a Mobile Environment

Tue, 12 May 2009 14:30:00 -0500

Today I had the privilege of participating in an online child safety panel at the 2009 Presidential Initiative Summit in Philadelphia. Hosted by our friends at the National Association of Attorneys General, the event was focused on protecting and empowering America’s next generation.

During my remarks, I announced another step in the wireless industry’s efforts to educate parents about wireless online safety. CTIA has developed six simple tips for parents to start the discussion with their kids about their behavior in a mobile environment. To make it easier for all of us to remember, we used the word “SAFETY” as an acronym:

“S” stands for “Smart.” The industry provides a lot of features and information for parents on how to keep their kids safe. While parents want to be with their children at all times, so we can protect them, it’s not always possible. That’s why parents need to educate their kids about smart wireless behavior.
“A” stands for “Aware.” Unlike TV, movies or music, wireless is an interactive service. This means parents need to be aware of how kids are or can use these products and services. By understanding what’s available, parents can determine what responsible wireless behavior means for their kids.
“F” stands for “Familiar.” CTIA is encouraging parents to know their child’s wireless plan, cell phone features, parental controls and privacy options. Wireless service providers have this information on their web sites.
“E” stands for “Experience.” Today’s kids and teenagers think one of the coolest things is getting a new cell phone. They love to communicate with their friends via text or through one of the many available mobile applications and social networks. As parents and policymakers, it’s important that we experience wireless devices in the same manner as our children. By embracing these new experiences, parents will be better informed so they can set their family’s guidelines and rules.
“T” stands for “talk.” Keeping an open dialogue is important and it encourages kids to talk to their parents about how they are using their cell phone. CTIA believes that proper wireless behavior begins with the five “W’s” of wireless.
o Who is your child contacting?
o What should kids be doing on their cell phone?
o When and Where can they use their cell phones?
o Why all of this is important?
“Y” stands for “Yearly Review.” As your child grows up, it’s important to keep your family’s rules and guidelines updated to reflect new technologies and your child’s new age.

The SAFETY Tips are just one of the many tools the wireless industry provides for parents to help educate and encourage their kids in responsible and safe use of cell phones.

You can download your copy of this informative pocket-guide today. For more information on keeping your kids safe in a mobile environment, please visit www.wirelessfoundation.org.

Insider Interview: Mobile Health @ the CDC

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:05:00 -0500

In March's installment of WOW, we interview Dr. Jay M. Bernhardt, the Director of the National Center for Health Marketing at the CDC. He chats with us about some novel case studies of wireless technology enhancing public health initiatives around the world. To see what Dr. Bernhard has to say and his perspective on the enormous value wireless technology can provide by providing access to information and creating a personal channel of communication between health care providers and patients check out CTIA's Wonder of Wireless webcast!

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Insider Interview with Glenn Lurie of AT&T

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:59:00 -0500

Remember the old 'The Who' song, Goin' Mobile? "I can pull up by the curb, I can make it on the road, goin' mobile. I can stop in any street and talk with people that we meet. Goin' Mobile. Keep me moving. Out in the woods, or in the city, it's all the same to me........ the world's my home when I'm mobile". It was a great tune when it was released back in 1971, and it certainly could be the wireless industry's anthem today! Find out how AT&T wants to help you go mobile, everywhere, all of the time, in this interview with Glenn Lurie, the President of Emerging Devices and Resale, AT&T. Glenn tells us about his new position at AT&T and their mission of introducing wireless capabilities into a whole host of emerging devices far beyond just mere handsets in a segment from our January edition of the CTIA Wonder of Wireless webcast.

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Wireless at Work - Wireless Revolution on Chicago Buses

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:26:00 -0500

Windy city residents are on the move like never before downtown, thanks to their wireless devices and the Chicago Transit Authority. See how the CTA is using wireless to revolutionize mass transit and make riding the bus even more convenient and easy for millions of passengers in our January installment of our Wonder of Wireless webcast.

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Steve on Data

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:59:00 -0500

Today from the keynote stage Steve Largent announced the latest CTIA survey findings – watch two video clips of him sharing his thoughts on the growth in wireless data and use:

Texting is Still Terrific!

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Wireless Data is a Key Driver

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The 2008 Wireless Election

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0500

With the 2008 election in full swing, we can add another benefit of wireless service to the already long list…DEMOCRACY! The benefits of wireless technology include staying in contact with friends and family, improving efficiency in the workplace and providing a lifeline during emergencies but now wireless services are allowing ordinary citizens to stay connected to the issues that matter most.

Public Affairs VP John Walls blogged last week about the Obama campaign's use of text messaging to announce his VP selection, and SMS in general is proving to be a popular means of communicating in today's political world. It's become an extremely innovative and cost-effective way for campaigns to keep their supporters energized and reminding them to vote. A 2007 study found that text message reminders to new voters increased an individual’s likelihood of voting by 4.2%. Although that does not seem like a large margin, Tomi Ahonen notes that if the 2008 election breaks down the same way as the 2004 election, that 4.2% text messaging influence could make the difference in deciding the winner. As Mobile Tech Today points out, that’s why the Obama campaign has been aggressively using text messaging since the earliest of this year's primaries and caucuses, even announcing their VP selection directly to supporters through a text message. Additionally, news organizations are encouraging readers to sign up for mobile alerts of breaking news, enhancing the “24/7” news cycle.

No matter how this election turns out, wireless will be a staple of any campaign and election cycle. I think we’ve only begun to scratch the surface in how wireless can influence and encourage everyday citizens to get involved in the American political process no matter who you support in November.

Location Based Services - Growing Leaps & Bounds

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:05:00 -0500

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Wireless Data Keeps Growing! What do the Numbers Actually Mean?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:35:00 -0500

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Cyberbullying: A Serious Problem Facing Kids Today

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:28:00 -0500

This morning I had the privilege of participating in an Internet Safety Briefing at the National Press Club here in D.C. Hosted by our friends at the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Crime Prevention Council, the purpose of this event was to talk about the new threat of cyberbullying that so many kids in America face today.

Most of you parents out there can attest to the fact that cell phones are becoming a must-have accessory for children, tweens, and teens. According to the Yankee Group, 72% of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 have wireless devices. While cell phones can be an incredible safety tool to help save lives and stop crime, unfortunately some people, such as cyberbullies, choose to use the technology in a negative way. With Internet on-the-go and in the palm of their hand, cyberbullies are now using cell phones as another weapon to embarrass and unnerve other kids.

As a father of four and grandfather of two, the issue of child safety hits very close to home. I deeply understand the desire every parent has to protect their sons and daughters from threats like cyberbullying. As more and more of America’s youth are using wireless devices, I’m pleased that the wireless industry has stepped up to the plate to provide parents with the tools they need to encourage responsible and safe use of cell phones.

One of these tools is the “Get Wise About Wireless” program, which was created by The Wireless Foundation in partnership with ConnectSafely.org and the Weekly Reader Corporation to help educate and equip students and their families with informative tips and tools on how they can help their students stay safe and defeat digital bullies.

Each year, “Get Wise About Wireless” program materials, including a student mini-magazine, teacher’s guide, and parent take-home pamphlet, are distributed to thousands of schools across the country as a free public service. More information about this program and complimentary electronic copies of the curriculum are available on our website.

I think as parents it's our responsibility to become educated on what reasonable steps we can take to keep our children safe. Wireless technology is a wonderful tool for all of us, and it can be even more useful and valuable for our young people as new opportunities become available. But, we have to make the environment as safe as possible, and I'm proud the industry is meeting that important obligation.

The mobile internet as an ecosystem

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:48:00 -0500

Today is the final day of the show, and as things start to wind down, I'm sure everyone is thinking about what is yet to come for the industry. Well, Atish Gude, senior vice president of Mobile Broadband Operations for Sprint's new Xohm business unit, addressed those thoughts and espoused his vision for the future for wireless internet.

The theme of his discussion was that the mobile internet is and will be a complex ecosystem with many different players, that will not be built by one individual, company, or even industry. The mobile internet is a collection of wireless, consumer electronics, and content, and all of these components need to work together seamlessly to create a positive customer experience.

Because there are so many interwoven components to the moble internet, Gude said that Xohm is "not going to do it ourselves." Instead, he said that they are committed to opening up their platfrom in hopes of spurring innovation in the broader range of consumer electronics, performance, and mobility.

As different business models emerge to capitlize on the demand for mobile internet, it will be interesting to see what models consumers ultimately decide to adopt and what this new world will look like.

Geeking out with Nokia

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 19:12:00 -0500

Here is a video of Kasey Farrar showing of Nokia's newest devices, which I shot with the N95. I have to say, I really love this device, you can edit video easily and then upload it via WiFi.

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Facebook announces new mobile apps, Facebook for Blackberry

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:32:00 -0500

Mobile Entertainment is today's theme, so Steve Largent started off this morning's keynote with some stats about how people are entertaining themselves on tehir devices:

- monthly MMS grew by 125% in the past year

- there were 472 million MMS messages sent in June 2007 alone

-carrier data revenue reached $1.5 billion in the first months of 2007

Steve also announced that October 13, 2008 will be the 25th anniversary of the first commercial wireless phone call, and that to commemorate that date, CTIA is asking folks to vote on the Top Ten moments in wireless on their website.

Dustin Moskowitz, Co-Founder, Facebook

Dustin Moskowitz started off his keynote by talking about the evolution of the company. Considering facebook's gaining popularity in the business community as a networking tool (the over 35 demographic is the fastest growing), it probably would have been just as appropriate from him to have spoken yesterday.

Dustin began by talking about the company's "unprecedented" growth, in both the US and abroad. There are now 49 million active facebook users with 200,000 users joining daily. With such widespread adoption, facebook has become an effective multi-media communication tool, and like all communication, people want to be able to use it on the go.

Currently, facebook supports SMS, MMS, and mobile web, and Dustin announced that they are adding two new mobile applications.

- the ability for third pary apps to have 'boxes' on mobile profiles

- the ability for third party app developers to communicate with users through SMS

Dustin also brought RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis and announced Facebook for Blackberry, which Mike demoed. The application will make it possible to upload and tag photos to Facebook- within the phone's camera application. It will also offer a central location for Facebook messages and announcements. It looks really great- I am going to download it as soon as I am finished writing this post!

Afterwards, the big announcements, I had a chance to sneak backstage to see where the speakers all hang out:

Mobile Content on the Move

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 12:40:00 -0500

Mobile entertainment takes over on Day Two of the show, with the keynote from Facebook founder Dustin Moskovitz. We'll feature his comments on our daily webcast from the show, which, will be up on the site late this afternoon.

We also will be dropping in on the M-tertainment Pavilion to give you a look at the latest and greatest of the games people play on the move.

Earlier I spoke with AT&T VP of Consumer Data Mark Collins about what we know so far about user habits and demand, his thoughts on transferring content on and between the three screens, and the challenges to helping mobile content take off. If you're curious about what's going on in the mobile space from one of the big players perspective, check out Mark's comments.

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Telekinesis @ CTIA

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:05:00 -0500

I moved a car with my mind today. Seriously. OK, not really- I was playing a video game with NeuroSky's bio censor and signalling processing system, which monitors brainwaves and gives feedback on emotional states. Basically, I put on headphones equipped with a censor, and then thought calming thoughts to lift a car on a screen in front of me. And it worked!

Obviously, this technology can be applied to gaming, but it has other wireless application potential as well. I spoke with the company's CEO- Stanley Yang, who explained that aside from mobile phone applications which can help people meditate and develop concentration skills, the technology can also be used in mp3 players to develop playlists based on a user's mood. It also has health applications- it can be used in Bluetooth headsets for drivers to monitor when they are getting drowsy, and can also be used to detect potential heart attacks. Here are some photos of me using me telekinetic powers: